Pakistan's former Test captain Inzamam-ul-Haq is likely to return as the chief selector of the Pakistan cricket team ahead of the ICC Men's 2023 ODI World Cup in India. A source in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed to news agency PTI that Inzamam has given his consent to resume the role of chief selector, a position he held from 2016 to 2019. Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) Cricket Technical Committee, which includes members like Misbah-ul-Haq, Inzamam and Muhammad Hafeez, is deliberating on the composition of the new national selection committee. The fate of director Mickey Arthur and head coach Grant Bradburn will be decided next week whether they should remain part of the selection panel. Their continuation is subject to evaluation by PCB's Cricket Technical Committee members.
"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.
As per the source, captain Babar Azam will be asked whether the experiment of making team director and head coach a part of the selection committee has been successful or not. Once Babar's views are taken, the cricket technical committee will send its recommendations to the chairman. After this, it will be decided whether only Inzamam should be appointed as the new chief selector or the entire selection committee should be changed.
"Once Babar's views are taken, the Cricket Technical Committee will also finalize its recommendation for the Chairman."
The decision next week will be crucial. The removal of Mickey Arthur and Bradburn from the selection process could potentially lead to dissent, as they took up the coaching position only after getting assurances from former PCB Chief Najam Sethi that they would have a say in selection matters. Although Arthur is yet to physically join the team due to his commitments with Derbyshire, he is expected to take charge during the Asia Cup 2023 and will be available for ODI World Cup 2023 in India and then Pakistan's tour of Australia, later in the year.