KARACHI: Inzamam-ul-Haq on Friday emerged as the favourite to become Pakistan’s new chief selector after the former Test captain expressed his interest for the job.
According to sources, Inzamam has informed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) that he was willing to give up his lucrative job as Afghanistan’s national coach in order to become the new chairman of selectors.
Having sounded out the likes of former Pakistan Test cricketers Mohsin Khan, Iqbal Qasim and Rashid latif, PCB also contacted Inzamam to know whether he would be interested in the job.
Pakistan’s cricket chiefs are in the process of forming a new national selection committee after firing the previous one in the aftermath of the national team’s disastrous performance in the Asia Cup and ICC World Twenty20 championship.
Former Test batsman Haroon Rashid, who was the chief selector, was also sacked.
According to a report, PCB chief Shaharyar Khan was in touch with Inzamam regarding the job of chief selector.
The report said that Inzamam had shown interest in becoming the chief selector but there were two major hurdles in his way — one was that he would have to leave his job as head coach of the Afghanistan team which earns him a monthly salary of US$12,000.
Inzamam, who is Pakistan’s most capped player with 120 Tests and 398 one-day internationals, joined Afghanistan as their head coach last year and along with former Indian pacer, Manoj Prabhakar, has managed to produce some decent results with them.
Meanwhile, Rashid Latif has reiterated that he was not keen on this job.
The PCB is on the hunt for a new chief selector after dissolving the previous committee owing to Pakistan’s failed disastrous Asia Cup and World T20 campaign.
The poor results also led to the resignation of head coach Waqar Younis and captain Shahid Afridi.
Pakistan’s former captain Muhammad Yousuf said if Inzamam or Rashid became chief selector, he would be willing to work under them.
“I think they are both ideal choices for this post as we need those people in the chain of command who have played modern day cricket and understand the importance of promoting and grooming new talent,” Yousuf said.
Meanwhile, Waqar Younis, who resigned as Pakistan’s coach after the World T20 debacle, has thrown his weight behind Inzamam as the new chief selector.
“Hearing Inzamam coming as chief selector. V good news. Glad PCB now listening to my 2015 recommendations,” tweeted Waqar.
In his post-tournament report following Pakistan’s quarter-final exit from World Cup 2015, Waqar had suggested names of Rashid Latif and Inzamam for the role of chief selector because of their command of the modern day game.
“I’m glad my efforts are not wasted. Inzi is good for modern day cricket. Wish they did this before,” Waqar said.
Waqar, however, has criticised the idea of appointing an interim coach.
“Bad decision to consider interim coach. Still have plenty of time before England Tour. Need vision for future planning,” he tweeted.