Being chief selector has been the most challenging role of my cricket career, reveals Inzamam-ul-Haq

Having served his country for three years in the capacity of the cricket team’s chief selector, Inzamam-ul-Haq will step down from the post once his tenure ends at the end of the month. However, the legendary cricketer has of late been severely criticized for picking a  young Imam-ul-Haq in the World Cup squad. The 23-year-old has 2,000-plus first-class runs and 3,000-plus in list A cricket. Before the advent of the mega event, he had 1,387 runs in 28 ODIs at an excellent average of 60-plus and ended up having a decent tournament in England, scoring 305 runs in eight innings.

“Imam, I think would not have survived for so long in the Pakistan team and international cricket if he was not a performer. He had already played junior cricket for Pakistan and done well in domestic cricket even before I became chief selector but this fact was ignored by the critics which was hurtful for me,” Inzamam-ul-Haq was reported saying by Sportstar.

During his term, the nation won its first ICC international tournament in eight years when they lifted the Champions Trophy in England in 2017. They also soared to the top of the world T20 rankings though they could not replicate the same prowess in red-ball cricket. 

“Being chief selector has been the most challenging role of my cricket career as I was heavily criticised for my decisions and I couldn’t respond much,” ul-Haq added.

With the entire coaching and support staff’s performance to be reviewed and evaluated over the past three years by a committee formed by the PCB, Inzamam is piqued to remain involved with the team, though in some other capacity. The 49-year-old has nearly 9,000 runs in test cricket alone at an average of 49.6.

“I can’t leave cricket. It is my passion,” he said.

Inzamam-ul-Haq had also visited England before the World Cup commenced and reportedly tried to get involved in team affairs that weren’t under his review. However, he believes he did what he was supposed to and helped bring to the fore the future cricketing heroes of the nation. 

“I did my best to help them out. Our team didn’t do badly but luck didn’t favor us many times. As chief selector I did my best to pick new talent and give them proper opportunities as they are the future of Pakistan cricket,” he concluded.