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28 March 2024

Pakistan chief selector quits

Published
By AFP

Pakistan's chief selector Mohammad Ilyas resigned Thursday and was replaced by former spinner Iqbal Qasim, the country's cricket board said, following defeat against England in limited-overs series.

Pakistan won the Tests 3-0 in the United Arab Emirates, but then went down 4-0 in the one-day series and 2-1 in the Twenty20 internationals, prompting calls for the removal of captain Misbah-ul Haq's and a management shake-up.

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Zaka Ashraf announced that Qasim, a former chief selector, had been appointed to replace Ilyas as chairman of the selection committee.

Ilyas, who only took over as chief selector in October but had been on the committee since 2008, said it was time to go.

"As selector I did my best and our team did well at all levels, but now I think it's time to move on and allow new faces to come and serve," the former Test batsman told AFP from Lahore.

He reportedly had reservations over the controversial selection of all-rounder Shoaib Malik, who had not been in the original limited-overs squad to play England.

Malik was only included as an extra member on Misbah's insistence.

Ilyas was also criticised over the selection of his son-in-law Imran Farhat, who despite performing well domestically failed to impress at international level.

Qasim, who resigned as chief selector following Pakistan's winless tour of Australia in 2010, said he prayed this time he would be more successful.

"I will try to make the best and balanced team for the upcoming Asia Cup. I resigned in the past because the team lost 14 consecutive matches. There is no justification for me to stay if the team loses continuously," Qasim said.

"I pray it will not happen again," he said.

Former paceman Salim Jaffer, batsman Azhar Khan, spinner Farrukh Zaman and Asif Baloch will serve as members of the committee, whose first job will be to select a team for the four-nation Asia Cup in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Defending champions India join Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the event which is played from March 11-22.

"We have very little time to select the squad so we will do the best possible without disturbing the team and hope that it does well," said Qasim.

Pakistan are also likely to replace interim coach Mohsin Khan with former Australian batsman Dav Whatmore, due to arrive in Pakistan on Friday.

Whatmore guided Sri Lanka to a World Cup title in 1996 and also coached Bangladesh in the 2007 World Cup where they defeated India and reached the Super Six stages.