Pakistan Chief Selector Inzamam ul Haq resigns after ‘clash of interest’ allegations

Pakistan cricket team’s Chief Selector Inzamam ul Haq Monday resigned from his post amid the World Cup 2023 after allegations surfaced that he was a partner in a company that manages players.

“People speak without research. Questions were raised on me so I decided that it was better I resign,” Inzamam said in a statement according to Geo News.

Geo News reporter Sohail Imran said a players’ management company has been registered with the PCB, in which Inzamam is also reportedly a partner. 

“Several top players are associated with this company, namely Mohammad Rizwan (who is also a partner) and Babar Azam […] and Fakhar Zaman as well,” the reporter noted.

He said this is the reason why questions were raised that the chief selector is a partner of a company that is involved in getting contracts for the players.

The development comes as the Pakistan team, on the verge of an exit from the World Cup in India, is already facing criticism and the board is also involved in a controversy after the PCB head leaked skipper Babar Azam’s private conversation with a top board official.

In the statement, Inzamam — who was appointed to the post in August — mentioned that he was available if the cricket board would initiate an investigation.

“People are making statements without research. I told the PCB to do their research. I have no relation with the player-agent company,” he clarified.

Inzamam, who served in the same post from August 2016 until July 2019, said he was “saddened” by such allegations. “I told the board that if they had any doubts, they should investigate it.”

In response, the PCB said 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 board’s brief statement mentioned.

What is the company’s role?

Imran mentioned that the company is involved in negotiating the terms of contracts for the players.

He added that the role of the agent is not to lobby, but it involves players’ contracts in franchises, getting them roles in advertisements, and making them brand ambassadors of an organisation.

The reporter mentioned that when the players’ manager gets a stronghold on the issues and the athletes associated with them become famous, then they begin dictating the board.

“This is what we saw in the central contracts,” he said, adding that sources had told him that Inzamam had played a key role in bridging the gap between the players and the PCB and increasing the players’ salaries.

It is also alleged that Inzamam favours those players associated with the players’ management company. “And yes, the company acts like a power group.”

More to follow…