Misbah-ul-Haq Rejects the Proposal to be the Chief Selector of Pakistan

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was keen to appoint former captain Misbah-ul-Haq as the head coach-cum-chief selector of the Pakistan team, although the player was yet to decide whether he would take up the job. However, according to the report Misbah-ul-Haq has rejected the proposal to be the Chief Selector. But the Pakistan Cricket Board has appointed him as the camp commandant, who is supervising a pre-season conditioning camp in Lahore.

Misbah-ul-Haq led Pakistan in 56 Tests. He has played 75 Tests, 162 ODIs and 39 international T20s, is a strong candidate in the race of the head coach. However, he is a member of the ‘Cricket Committee’ headed by Waseem Khan, the former Test captain Managing Director.

However, the PCB has set up a three-man panel to select six provincial teams for the upcoming domestic season. The panel includes Misbah-ul-Haq alongside former Test captain Rashid Latif and former Test spinner Nadeem Khan.

Pakistan had a dismal show in the ICC World Cup and they certainly wouldn’t want to continue that form in the upcoming tournament. The news came earlier that Misbah wasn’t keen to join the camp but Zakir Khan asked him to supervise that.

“He was not very keen to also supervise the pre-season conditioning camp but Zakir Khan, who is Director International Cricket and an influential figure in the board, convinced Misbah,” a source shared to PTI.

He further shared that the player was in denial because he was unhappy with the decision of the board. Pakistan Cricket Board had permitted some centrally contracted players to play in the domestic T20 leagues whereas some of them were required to undergo rehab as they have some niggles and fitness issues.

“Misbah is aware that some of the players are carrying niggling fitness problems including Fakhar Zaman and Babar Zaman and he felt that the PCB should have called them home after the World Cup and have them undergo a rehab process instead of giving them clearance to play in leagues or in England,” the source informed.