Inzamam-ul-Haq appointed chief selector of Pakistan Cricket Team ahead of crucial 2023 tournaments

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In a major development in Pakistan's cricket landscape, former cricketer Inzamam-ul-Haq has been appointed the chief selector of the national men's team on Monday (August 7).

Inzamam has officially accepted the position after previously serving as chief selector from 2016 to 2019. The legendary Pakistan batter had in the past worked with Arthur during his previous tenure that included the 2017 Champions Trophy triumph and the 2019 World Cup.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) source confirmed this development to the news agency PTI, shedding light on discussions held by members of the Cricket Technical Committee including Misbah ul Haq, Inzamam, and Muhammad Hafeez regarding the composition of the new selection panel.

However, it remains to be seen whether the director of cricket operations Mickey Arthur and head coach Grant Bradburn will continue to be part of the selection committee. The PTI report claimed a source saying that Misbah would present his recommendation to board chairman Zaka Ashraf after consulting with Pakistan skipper Babar Azam.

Their input will determine whether having both a team director and head coach on the selection panel has proven beneficial for Pakistan's cricketing fortunes. "The Cricket Technical Committee members including Misbah ul Haq, Inzamam and Muhammad Hafeez have been discussing the new selection committee and it is yet to be decided whether Arthur and Bradburn should remain members on it," the source told PTI.

Following Babar's input, final recommendations will be made by the Cricket Technical Committee to Chairman Ashraf. The key decision at hand is whether Inzamam alone should assume responsibility as a chief selector or if a complete overhaul of the entire selection committee is necessary.

Under Najam Sethi's leadership as head of the Cricket Management Committee (CMC), a revamped selection committee was introduced featuring Arthur, Bradburn, and secretary Hasan Cheema who oversees data analysts for the national team.

Inzamam and Arthur's next challenge is to pick a strong ODI side for the upcoming Asia Cup 2023 - which will be hosted by Pakistan in a hybrid model in association with Sri Lanka Cricket - and ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 in India, starting October 5.

More to follow...