KARACHI:
Iqbal Qasim labelled the team’s progress his prime aim as he took a guard as Pakistan cricket’s chief selector for the second time, replacing Mohammad Ilyas, who resigned from the post yesterday.
Also making a comeback into the selection committee was former left-arm fast-bowler Salim Jaffer, while the Pakistan Cricket Board opted to retain Azhar Khan, Asif Baloch and Farukh Zaman in the five-member committee. The development ended speculations of Mohsin Khan aliding back into his old post after his tenure as head coach ended with the conclusion of the Twenty20s against England.
Qasim headed the selection committee three years ago as well and resigned after Pakistan’s disastrous and winless tour of Australia in 2009-10, the aftermath of which saw bans and hefty fines put on several players.
Jaffer, meanwhile, has been considered a ‘hardworking selector’ and worked as a member of selection committee from 2007 to 2010 before his contract was not extended by former PCB chairman Ijaz Butt in July 2011.
Asia Cup squad the first task
Qasim, though, said that selecting the Asia Cup squad will be his first assignment with the tournament starting on March 11 in Bangladesh. “We have to finalise the squad within a couple of days,” Qasim told The Express Tribune. “I will be meeting captain Misbahul Haq and coach Dav Whatmore soon to take their input on team selection.”
Qasim added that he will be able to reveal his long-term plans for the improvement of Pakistan cricket after the selection process.
“The assignment came as a surprise to me. But now that I’ve been handed the job, I need to work on the job at hand and will be in a position to reveal our long-term plans later. I will give my best to fulfil my responsibility and my past experience will definitely help me with my fresh stint.”
According to a PCB official, forming separate teams for all three formats besides extending the pool of youngsters are among the major targets given to the new-look selection committee.
Right time for change: Illyas
Meanwhile, Illyas, while explaining the reasons behind his resignation, said that he felt the need for a change following the England series.
“It’s the right time for a new chief selector. I enjoyed my job and I am thankful to the PCB for giving me the responsibility.”
Illyas came under heavy fire during his stint with the committee for the selection of Imran Farhat, his son-in-law.
Foreign coach - SHC issues notice
A division bench of SHC ordered issuance of notices to the PCB chief after a challenge by the National Interest Council to the appointment of a foreign head coach and assistant coach by the board.
Suhail Shelan, chairman of the NGO, argued that the PCB was about to hire the services of two foreigners but the entire budget, salaries and other board expenditures come from the government which is essentially public money. He added that Pakistan’s recent wins came with a local coach at the helm and thus there was no need to hire foreigners.
He added that the PCB will be giving them huge salaries, perks and facilities without any guarantee of wins in the future. The players, according to Shelan, also faced language issues with foreign coaches.
The bench, for the sake of a fair opportunity of hearing to the petitioner, ordered its office to issue notices to the PCB.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 2nd, 2012.
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