PCB reiterates support for Inzamam, Arthur; refutes media reports on 'parting ways' after World Cup

Published May 29, 2019
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief selector Inzamamul Haq speaks with the team during a team practice in Lahore. — AFP/File
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief selector Inzamamul Haq speaks with the team during a team practice in Lahore. — AFP/File

The Pakistan Cricket Board in a statement issued on Wednesday strongly refuted media reports that suggest the board has decided to part ways with chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq and coach Mickey Arthur.

The news regarding the cricket board's purported decision to not renew Inzamam and Arthur’s contracts emerged a day earlier after a source in the PCB spoke to the Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency. According to the source, former captain Aamir Sohail was being considered as the chief selector in place of Inzamam whose three-year contract will end in July.

The PCB on Wednesday "reminded all stakeholders that it had clarified a few weeks ago that the future of the chief selector, coach and the player support personnel will be reviewed following the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019", insisting that there has been no change to that position.

"It is disappointing that a foreign news agency, attributing an unnamed PCB official, released a factually incorrect and baseless story," said the statement, terming it "unfortunate" that local media published it "without carrying out due diligence or fact-checking".

“At a time when the entire country and Pakistan cricket fans are getting behind the national side, the release and subsequent publication of a factious story, such as this one, seems to be an attempt to derail the Pakistan cricket team’s campaign in the ICC Cricket World Cup by creating unnecessary disturbance in camp."

“The PCB has fully backed and supported the chief selector, coach and player support personnel, and will continue to do so at the upcoming tournament. The PCB further clarifies that there has been no discussion or decision on the future management of the Pakistan cricket team, which will only be reviewed following the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019,” the statement added.

The ICC Cricket World Cup starts tomorrow in the United Kingdom; Pakistan will play their first match on Friday.

Opinion

Editorial

Stampede deaths
Updated 02 Apr, 2023

Stampede deaths

For the state, the distribution of food aid or cash needs to be streamlined and transparent.
Handover halted
02 Apr, 2023

Handover halted

SOMETIMES individuals and institutions need to be saved from themselves. The Lahore High Court’s ruling on Friday...
Flying out
02 Apr, 2023

Flying out

OUR aviation industry is once again in the midst of a crisis. The slashing of pilots’ salaries and a steep ...
Courting controversy
Updated 01 Apr, 2023

Courting controversy

Pakistan cannot afford any of its top judges to be seen to be associated with one political narrative or the other.
No more freebies
01 Apr, 2023

No more freebies

PERHAPS amongst the major reasons Pakistan is fighting to maintain financial solvency today is that its rapacious...
Airports in private hands
01 Apr, 2023

Airports in private hands

THE government decision to ‘outsource’ the operations and land assets of the three main airports in Lahore,...