KARACHI, April 14: Former chairman of selectors Wasim Bari on Saturday denied ever saying that Inzamam-ul-Haq took arbitrary decisions during his tenure as Pakistan captain.

Bari taking exceptions to a report appearing in the press on Saturday regarding the Performance Evaluation Committee (PEC) session in Karachi, saying that his statement to the committee was misreported.

“I am extremely disappointed to note that some paragraphs have been attributed to me contrary to what I told the committee. All I can say is that there is no substance or truth to what I said about Inzamam,” Bari told Dawn.

“I simply told the committee that I’ve come forward in the interest of Pakistan cricket to give some suggestions. I clearly told them that as selectors we take responsibility for what had happened in the World Cup.

“But I never ever said that Inzamam undermined the authority of the selection committee during his tenure as the national captain,” the former Test wicketkeeper added. “Our job was to pick the squad and then hand it over to the team management. Afterwards, it was responsibility of the captain and coach to select the playing XI. And we never interfered in their matters.”

Bari stressed that the selectors always picked the best available squad of players after getting the inputs of both captain and the coach.

Coming to the ongoing World Cup, Bari pointed out that he informed the inquiry committee that the main causes of Pakistan’s woeful performance at the mega event was the failure of batsmen and the lack of planning and strategy.

“This is exactly what I told the committee as contrary to what has appeared in the press. Mr Ijaz Butt (the PEC chairman) can testify my statement,” said Bari.

Bari also explained that on several occasions, differences arose between the selectors and Inzamam.

“At least they were two occasions in recent past when we had to face situations where Inzamam differed with our selections. Shabbir Ahmed was sent to South Africa at Inzamam’s insistence despite the fact that he was not fit according to the trainer’s report. We opposed that move from the start,” the former chief selector remarked.

“Further, Inzamam was unwilling to have Shoaib Akhtar flown out to South Africa during the Test series. But we felt that since Umar Gul had broken down, Pakistan needed a strike bowler. And since Shoaib Akhtar had proved his fitness in the domestic circuit, we felt that he was the best choice in the circumstances to join the team in South Africa,” Bari said.

Meanwhile, Ijaz Butt supported Bari’s views. In a press release issued on Saturday, the former Test cricketer stated that Bari never uttered such words while appearing before the committee.

“Such news item in fact tantamounts to spoiling the integrity of the committee which it has successfully maintained since it met on April 5,” he said.