ISLAMABAD: Aalia Rasheed, the PCB’s Head of Media and Communications, expressed that Inzamam-ul-Haq, the Chief Selector, should have informed the cricket board of any potential conflict of interest.
Inzamam resigned from his position during the 2023 World Cup amid allegations that he had a stake in a company owned by a players’ agent, Talha Rehmani, who represents several Pakistani cricketers. This raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest and their impact on player selection. PCB initiated a fact-finding committee to investigate these allegations.
Aalia Rasheed stated that Inzamam’s resignation was unnecessary, as PCB was addressing the issue through the committee. The investigation’s outcome will determine Inzamam’s future with PCB. Mohammad Rizwan, who is also connected to the same company, is not part of the investigation. Rasheed explained that it’s common for players to invest their earnings for financial stability after retirement.
For the upcoming Australia series, an interim chief selector will be chosen from the existing selection committee members until the fact-finding committee’s recommendations are made. Aalia praised PCB’s Chairman Zaka Ashraf’s work and highlighted that he focuses on the job rather than public relations.
She also discussed visa issues faced by Pakistani fans and journalists at the ICC World Cup 2023 in India and expressed the PCB’s intention to address the matter with the ICC.
Aalia clarified the controversy surrounding a PCB press release that appeared to criticize the team’s performance, saying it was issued to show support for the team, not to distance the board from its responsibilities. She also noted that airing a private WhatsApp chat between Babar Azam and PCB’s CEO was wrong and had a negative impact on the players.
