Pakistan’s chief selector Inzamam ul Haq resigns over ‘conflict of interest’ allegations

PCB said it has set up a five-member fact-finding committee to "investigate allegations in respect of conflict of interest"

Pakistan's chief selector Inzamam ul Haq resigns over 'clash of interest' allegations

Inzamam ul Haq has reportedly stepped down from his post as the chief selector for the Pakistan cricket team. (FILE)

Former Pakistan cricketer Inzamam ul Haq has reportedly stepped down from his post as the chief selector for the Pakistan cricket team over allegations that he was also a shareholder in a prominent player management company. That role had led to conflict of interest allegations.

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Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a statement that it has set up a five-member fact-finding committee to “investigate allegations in respect of conflict of interest reported in the media pertaining to the team selection process.

“The committee will submit its report and any recommendations to the PCB Management in an expeditious manner,” the statement said.

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The news is a fresh blow for Pakistan cricket, which is already going through a turbulent time with the Pakistan team in 6th spot in the standings of the ongoing Cricket World Cup, having won just two of their six matches so far.

“People speak without research. Questions were raised on me so I decided that it was better I resign,” Inzamam was quoted as saying by Pakistan’s Geo News. “People are making statements without research. I told the PCB to do their research. I have no relation with the player-agent company.”

What is the controversy?

At the heart of the controversy is a player-management company called Yazoo International Limited. According to Pakistani website Cricket Pakistan “Inzamam is a shareholder in Yazoo International Limited, a company owned by players’ agent Talha Rehmani. Rehmani represents some of Pakistan’s top cricketers, including Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi.”

With the Pakistan cricket team in trouble in India, there has been a lot of scrutiny over the team. This has led to people questioning Inzamam’s role as well (he has been chief selector since August).

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Head of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) management committee, Zaka Ashraf, recently told a new channel: “It looks like a conflict of interest. We will call the chief selector and ask him to clarify whether this news is correct or not. But it seems like if Talha has controlled seven to eight players, then he must be the one behind the selection as well. We will ask the chief selector to explain.”

Ashraf also gave an interview to Ary News where he said PCB would devise a legislation regarding business agreements of the cricketers and chief selectors.

“Such business agreements could have become a reason for a clash in the team’s interests. The chief selectors will be questioned and legislation will be devised… There would a monopoly if a single agent has contracts of several players. Business agreements and agents are serious issues and the board would consider these issues on a serious note.”