Pakistan Cricket cannot be run in this manner: Inzamam-ul-Haq

In a recent turn of events, ex-Pakistani captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) decision to dismiss Mohammed Hafeez as Team Director.

Inzamam raised concerns about the cricket board's selective accountability, questioning the decision to remove Hafeez as Team Director while retaining Wahab Riaz as Chief Selector after the tours of Australia and New Zealand. He brought attention to the analogous responsibilities assigned to both counterparts and questioned why only Hafeez was subjected to repercussions.

"Can someone explain the reasoning behind removing Muhammad Hafeez as Team Director but retaining Wahab Riaz as Chief Selector after the Australian and New Zealand tours?" Inzamam said on a TV show, as quoted by NDTV.

"Weren't both appointed at the same time and given same responsibilities, so why has only Hafeez been held accountable and not Wahab Riaz?" he asked.

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The former cricket great, who stepped down as chief selector amid controversy regarding after several reports claimed he held a stake in a player's management firm registered with the PCB in the midst of last year's 50-over World Cup, urged the PCB to extend respect towards former players. He conveyed his dismay, stressing that the PCB Chairman occupies a position of great respect, and the fact that former captains and cricketing legends merit a comparable level of regard from the top board officials.

"The PCB Chairman no doubt is a highly respectable position, but don't former captains and stalwarts deserve the same amount of respect from the top board officials," said Inzamam.

 I was hurt by this behavior from the Chairman: Inzamam

Inzamam, drawing from personal experience, recounted an incident with former PCB Chairman Zaka Ashraf. He detailed an instance where, during a dispute over conflict of interest allegations, he felt disrespected.

"We had a meeting scheduled at the PCB offices after this story about me having a conflict of interest as Chief Selector broke out. I was sitting with (PCB officials) Salman Naseer and Aliya Rasheed waiting for the chairman to come," he recalled.

"But he went to the academy and from there called Naseer and Aliya to meet him, and I was told to wait as he would not be seeing me. Only Aliya returned after a time and told me about the inquiry committee. I was hurt by this behaviour from the Chairman. Every detail of agents and their companies who work with players are available with ICC and PCB, and it was not such a big deal I told them I would resign and they can complete their inquiry," he added.

The icon stressed the need for a more accountable and respectful approach from board officials, declaring that Pakistan Cricket cannot be managed in the current way. He emphasized the importance of board officials recognizing accountability for their actions.

"Pakistan Cricket cannot be run in this manner. It is time the board officials also accepted responsibility for their actions," he concluded.

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