Inzamam excluded from PSL player category committee

Inzamam-ul-Haq, former Pakistan captain has been ousted from the player category committee of the upcoming PSL season, as the other franchises hold some reservations regarding Haq’s presence in that committee. This is because of the fact that Inzamam had been associated with the Lahore Qalandars in the past and hence he being in the player committee would raise a ‘conflict of interest’ issue.

Various franchises participating in the PSL haven’t refrained from expressing their concerns regarding this same. Accordingly, the PCB has had to react quite well by forming a three-member committee, which will address the doubts of these teams.

Imran Ahmed Khan, Waseem Haider and Wajahtullah Wasti comprise this committee and they would have to carry out certain peculiar tasks too.

They will have to decide the sets of domestic players who would play in the league, along with the number of international players to be included in the final draft category. However, teams could suggest their choices of players too, but the final decision-making power would stand with the committee itself.

The three-member committee would review, overlook and then eventually figure out the players to be inducted in the draft category.

Inzamam’s ouster would certainly be a major setback for a player and a cricketing figure of his stature. He is the current Chief Selector of the Pakistani team and Haq has already made some progressive changes regarding fitness of the players.

However, it is very fair from the PCB’s perspective to acknowledge the genuine concerns presented by the other franchises. Even though, Haq might not have indulged in any wrongdoing, the mere attention surrounding the whole ‘conflict of interest’ scenario would have overclouded the actual proceedings of the tournament.

It is arguably hypocritical too; as Pakistan’s head coach Mickey Arthur and bowling Coach Azhar Mehmood are associated with the Karachi Kings franchise.

Hence, it does remain to be seen whether how Inzamam-hl-Haq responds to the decisions and the factors surrounding PCB’s firmness regarding this particular situation.