Inzamam blasts PCB over lack of transparency in decision-making

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Former Pakistan cricketer Inzamam-ul-Haq has expressed his discontent over the recent decision by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to remove Muhammad Hafeez as team director while retaining Wahab Riaz as chief selector after the Australian and New Zealand tours.

Speaking on a local channel, Inzamam questioned the reasoning behind holding Hafeez accountable while sparing Riaz from any consequences, given that both were appointed simultaneously and entrusted with similar responsibilities.

"Can someone explain the reasoning behind removing Muhammad Hafeez as team director but retaining Wahab Riaz as chief selector after the Australian and New Zealand tours?" Inzamam said.

"Weren't both appointed at same time and given same responsibilities so why has only Hafeez been held accountable and not Wahab Riaz?" he further added.

Highlighting the need for respect towards former captains and stalwarts, Inzamam criticized the PCB's decision-making process. He recounted an incident where he was sidelined during a scheduled meeting at the PCB offices, signaling a lack of transparency and accountability within the board.

"The PCB Chairman no doubt is a highly respectable position but don't former captains and stalwarts deserve the same amount of respect from the top board officials," Inzamam said.

Inzamam recounted an incident where he was sidelined during a scheduled meeting at the PCB offices, signaling a lack of transparency and accountability within the board.

"We had a meeting scheduled at the PCB offices after this story about me having a conflict of interest as chief selector broke out. I was sitting with (PCB officials) Salman Naseer and Aliya Rasheed waiting for the chairman to come," Inzamam said. 

"But he went to the academy and from there called Naseer and Aliya to meet him and I was told to wait as he would not be seeing me. Only Aliya returned after a time and told me about the inquiry committee," he further added.

Inzamam revealed that during the meeting, concerns were raised about a perceived conflict of interest due to his role as chief selector. Despite offering his resignation to facilitate an inquiry, he was left feeling disregarded by the PCB Chairman's actions.

“I was hurt by this behaviour from the Chairman. Every detail of agents and their companies who work with players are available with ICC and PCB and it was not such a big deal and I told them I would resign and they can complete their inquiry," Inzamam said.

Expressing disappointment with the handling of cricket affairs, Inzamam stressed the importance of accountability at all levels within the PCB.

"Pakistan cricket cannot be run in this manner. It is time the board officials also accepted responsibility for their actions," he concluded.