November 17, 2006	Friday	Shawwal 24, 1427

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LAHORE, Nov 16: The Pakistan cricket Board has sent written instructions to captain Inzamam-ul-Haq and coach Bob Woolmer informing them that at least one or more national selectors will be present at all team selection meetings for matches.

A senior board official said that the instructions had been given out in writing on the directives of PCB Chairman, Dr Naseem Ashraf who was keen to have more involvement of the selectors in team selections.

Until now the national selectors have been restricted to choosing a short-listed squad for a tour or matches at home and handed it over to the captain and coach who had the final authority to pick the playing eleven.

“In the changed circumstances a member of the selection committee will now sit in all such meetings with Inzamam and Woolmer and have a say in the final selection of teams,” the official said.

Dr Ashraf has already announced that after next year’s World Cup the board is going to appoint ‘paid selectors’, one of whom would accompany the team on all tours abroad.

“The chairman wants to follow the policies of the Australian and England teams where the chief selector is fully involved in the final selection for every match at home and abroad,” the official said.

“The idea is to have a more democratic set up and more balance when playing elevens are selected for a match,” he added.

The current selection committee headed by former Test captain, Wasim Bari works on honorary basis with members Iqbal Qasim and Ehteshamuddin also employed elsewhere.

He said in all probability a selector would also accompany the team on its tour of South Africa and to the World Cup next year.