LAHORE: In a surprising decision, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday appointed former Test batsman Haroon Rashid — whose previous job as chief selector could bring no good to the country — as director cricket operations.

“The Pakistan Cricket Board has appointed Haroon Rashid as director cricket operations after completing all the formalities and the interview process. He resumed his duties from today i.e. April 17, 2017, at the Board headquarters,” a PCB press release said here on Monday.

The 64-year-old Haroon had to resign as chief selector after the Pakistan team picked for the 2016 World T20 badly flopped and exited in the first round. As chief selector, Haroon had replaced Moin Khan, whose squad had failed to click in the 2015 World Cup, after the latter was sacked owing to the casino incident that occurred during the showpiece staged in Australia and New Zealand amidst losses suffered by Pakistan.

After the 2015 World Cup, the very first team picked by Haroon-led selection body for the tour of Bangladesh, were swept 0-3 in the ODI series for the first time against that opposition. Misbah-captained Pakistan, however, won the two-Test series.

Asked if he regretted his mistakes as chief selector which he would avoid in his new role, Haroon thought differently.

“In Pakistan sacking coach and selectors after national team’s defeat has been a custom. However, this [director cricket operations] is a new area in which I have already worked on different positions like director youth development and others, so [now] I have many ideas to deliver.

“I was one of the candidates for the position of director cricket operations, and possess all the criteria to get this post,” claimed Haroon who played 23 Tests between 1977 and 1983 scoring 1217 runs at the average of 34.77.

To a question, Haroon said he would report to the chief operating officer Subhan Ahmed but added that he was unaware if he would also be part of any PCB committee.

“I have no idea how to work with [these] cricket committees but I think I may be the part of these committees,” he said.

Meanwhile, PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan said a three-member committee chaired by him interviewed three candidates for the post of director cricket operations, adding former Test cricketers Iqbal Qasim and Shahid Mahboob were also included in the list.

“Though both Iqbal and Haroon were strong candidates, Haroon because of his vast experience of working in the area of domestic cricket was selected,” Shaharyar told Dawn.

“As chief selector, Haroon’s performance may be questioned but now one year has passed and this [director cricket operations] is a different role; so, hopefully he will deliver,” added the PCB chief.

Dawn has learnt that Iqbal was interested to remain in Karachi because of some family commitments; whereas the PCB wanted to have the director cricket operations working at its headquarters in Lahore.

Published in Dawn, April 18th, 2017