LAHORE, Oct 17: After the handing in of resignations by selector Shafqat Rana and Pakistan team manager Talat Ali on Friday, former Test fast bowler Saleem Jaffer, also a former member of the national selection committee, was elevated as chief selector for an interim period.

As former chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed had already resigned in protest of his last finalised squad for the Toronto Twenty20 Cup being tampered with, either by board officials or the Federal Sports Ministry, Saleem Jaffer’s appointment seems to have changed the entire scene as far as the national selection committee is concerned.

The move also confirms that PCB’s new chairman Ijaz Butt has accepted Salahuddin’s resignation. The three-man previous committee, including chairman Salahuddin, Shafqat and Saleem, had been formed by previous chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf.

Salahuddin had demanded of the new chairman to hold an inquiry to probe the tampering of the team after which Ijaz Butt wrote to the Federal Sports Ministry to inquire how or on whose advice they changed the team.

Meanwhile, Federal Sports Secretary Ashraf Khan has reportedly said that they had been advised to replace Saeed Ajmal with opener Shoaib Khan by PCB Chief Operating Officer Shafqat Naghmi.

However, they are yet to receive an official letter in this regard.

Ijaz Butt took over as the PCB head last Friday after a three-day visit to Dubai where he attended the ICC meeting. He then spent a whole day in office to announce different changes in the afternoon through a press release.

According to the release, Shafqat had informed the PCB about his decision to resign and the three-member selection committee could not exist with his leaving as well. Interim arrangements therefore had to be made to finalise the teams for the two back-to-back assignments of Hong Kong Sixes and the three One-day series against West Indies in Abu Dhabi.

Saleem will lead the three-member interim selection committee, which also includes former middle-order batsman Ijaz Ahmed and opener Shoaib Mohammad. Ijaz Ahmed was already working as fielding coach at the National Cricket Academy before being given the new role.

Former chief selector Salahuddin has congratulated Saleem and assured him of his complete support and cooperation.

Moreover, after receiving Talat Ali Malik’s resignation, the board has named Yawar Saeed, a former team manager and director PCB as the new chairman for the series in Abu Dhabi.

Sultan Rana, younger brother of Shafqat Rana, has been appointed as manager for the Hong Kong Sixes. Sultan is also director, Domestic Cricket. The junior selection committee, which was headed by Col. (retd.) Naushad Ali has been disbanded and as there happens to be no immediate assignment ahead, a new junior selection committee may be formed later.

Meanwhile, Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik and coach Geoff Lawson are likely to meet the new chairman on Saturday. Sources say that Shoaib and Lawson are likely to present their report on the Canada tour, after the manager’s failure to do so while preferring to resign.

The meeting with Lawson is important too as the new chairman has reportedly said that he was not satisfied with Lawson’s performance. The meeting may produce some kind of a decision about his future with the team as well.

Decision about Shoaib’s captaincy is unlikely before December, so he is would carry on for the Abu Dhabi series.

The chairman also met former Test captain Salim Malik while appointing Shan Gul as a legal advisor for three years too.