The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has brought back former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq as the new chief selector for the men’s national cricket team. This comes just ahead of major tournaments like the Asia Cup 2022 and ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.
Inzamam had previously served in the same role between 2016-2019. During his first tenure, Pakistan won the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy under his watch. The squad he selected also performed decently at the 2019 World Cup.
Now back for a second stint, Inzamam’s immediate task will be picking squads for the upcoming ODI series against Afghanistan and the Asia Cup.
Who is Inzamam-Ul-Haq?
With 120 Tests, 378 ODIs and over 20,000 international runs, Inzamam-ul-Haq is one of Pakistan’s greatest batters. He captained Pakistan to victory at the 1992 World Cup.
As chief selector from 2016-2019, Inzamam focused on grooming young talent. Around 70-80% of the players he picked back then form the core of Pakistan’s current teams.
What Inzamam Said on His re-appointment?
Inzamam expressed excitement about his reappointment:
“It is an honour for me to be appointed as the chairperson of the national men’s selection committee. I am thankful to Mr Zaka Ashraf for offering me this post. It is wonderful to see the chairman involving former players in cricketing matters.”
He also acknowledged the challenges ahead:
“Heading a selection committee is already a tough job in Pakistan, but it is going to be more challenging this time with the ACC Men’s Asia Cup and ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup around the corner.”
However, Inzamam remains confident about his team’s chances:
“I had a good run in the last tenure. We had famous victories with the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 being the highlight. This team is stable and I would not face the same challenges.”
First Assignments
Inzamam’s first major assignment will be selecting squads for:
- 3 ODIs against Afghanistan (Aug 22 onwards)
- Asia Cup 2023 (Aug-Sept)
- ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 (Oct-Nov)
The T20 World Cup squad will be especially crucial given the mega event is being held just a year before the 2023 ODI World Cup.
Pakistan’s first World Cup match is against Netherlands on October 6 in Hyderabad. The final will be at Narendra Modi Stadium on November 19.
With his experience and credentials, Inzamam’s inputs could give Pakistan the edge they need to clinch both tournaments. His balanced approach of grooming youngsters while retaining core veterans was successful last time. Fans will hope he can recreate the same magic in his second stint.
Inzamam-Ul-Haq’s Net Worth in 2023
The newly reappointed Pakistan chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq has built an impressive net worth of $20 million over his decorated playing career and previous coaching stints.
As one of Pakistan’s greatest batters and captains, Inzamam earned handsomely through match fees, endorsements, and other commercial engagements at his peak.
Now back as chief selector, he is expected to earn an annual salary of around $1 million in this high-profile role with the Pakistan Cricket Board.
