Inzamam-ul-Haq, the former captain of the Pakistan cricket team and member of the 1992 World Cup-winning squad, has been appointed for a second term as the chief selector of the men’s national team. This news comes with high expectations, as Inzamam successfully led the team to victory in the 2017 Champions Trophy in England during his first tenure. With his return, Inzamam hopes to surpass the success of his previous term and bring glory to Pakistan cricket once again.
The announcement of Inzamam’s appointment was made on August 7th, and he immediately faced his first task of selecting the one-day squad for an upcoming three-match series against Afghanistan. The series is set to take place in Sri Lanka later this month. This assignment is the beginning of a crucial period for Pakistan cricket, with both the Asia Cup and the 50-overs World Cup scheduled for this year. Therefore, Inzamam’s role as chief selector will play a pivotal role in shaping the team’s performance in these significant tournaments.
Recognizing the challenges ahead, especially with major tournaments on the horizon and an upcoming tour of Australia, Inzamam expressed his determination to deliver in his role. In a statement released by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Inzamam said, Heading a selection committee is already a tough job in Pakistan, but it is going to be more challenging this time with the Asia Cup and World Cup around the corner followed by the tour of Australia. But, I know I can deliver in this role and I will try to do better than I did last time. Despite the paucity of time, we will announce the best possible sides.
Inzamam, with an impressive cricketing career spanning from 1991 to 2007, played a total of 499 international matches for Pakistan. During his previous term as the chief selector from 2016 to 2019, he demonstrated his ability to identify and nurture talent, which now forms the core of the current team. His return to this role is seen as a strategic move to leverage his experience and expertise to further strengthen the team.
The PCB Chairman, Zaka Ashraf, expressed his delight at Inzamam accepting the role. Ashraf praised Inzamam as a cricketing legend who has served the game with dignity and expressed confidence in his ability to bring more talented cricketers to light. Ashraf believes that Inzamam’s second innings as the chief selector will add to the laurels of Pakistan cricket and help unearth more talent.
In conclusion, the reappointment of Inzamam-ul-Haq as the chief selector of the Pakistan men’s cricket team marks the beginning of a new chapter in Pakistan cricket. With major tournaments on the horizon, Inzamam’s role will be instrumental in shaping the team’s performance. His experience, coupled with his proven track record in identifying talent, makes him a valuable asset to the team. As cricket fans eagerly watch, Inzamam embarks on this challenging journey with hopes of steering Pakistan cricket to new heights.
