Former Pakistani Test captain Inzamam-ul-Haq is poised to make a return as Pakistan’s chief selector, while the fate of team director Mickey Arthur and head coach Grant Bradburn remains uncertain. The decision on Arthur and Bradburn’s continuation in the national selection committee will be made next week. Inzamam has reportedly agreed to once again serve as the paid chief selector, a position he held from 2016 to 2019.
Sources have revealed that Misbah ul Haq, Muhammad Hafeez, and Inzamam, who are members of the Cricket Technical Committee, have been deliberating over the composition of the new selection committee. It is yet to be determined whether Arthur and Bradburn will remain as committee members. The source indicated that Misbah will seek the opinion of captain Babar Azam to evaluate whether having the team director and head coach on the selection panel has been advantageous for the team. Once Babar’s views are obtained, the Cricket Technical Committee will finalize its recommendation for the chairman.
The crucial decision to be made revolves around whether only Inzamam should assume the position of chief selector or if a complete overhaul of the selection committee is necessary. During the tenure of Najam Sethi as the head of the interim Management Committee, a revamped selection committee was announced, including Arthur, Bradburn, and secretary Hasan Cheema, responsible for data analysis. Notably, no other former Pakistani player was included in the committee, which was led by Haroon Rasheed, a member of the former Management Committee.
The upcoming week holds significance, as the potential removal of Arthur and Bradburn from the selection process may not sit well with them. Any removals would likely be met with discontentment, as the two accepted their coaching positions with firm assurances from Sethi that they would have a say in selection matters.
In summary, Inzamam-ul-Haq is set to make a comeback as Pakistan’s chief selector, and the prospects for Arthur and Bradburn in the national selection committee remain uncertain. The decision regarding their future will be made next week, taking into account the opinions of key stakeholders, including captain Babar Azam. The Cricket Technical Committee will finalize its recommendation to the chairman, considering the possibility of either solely appointing Inzamam as the chief selector or revamping the entire selection committee.
