New PCB selector warns it will take time to change team's fortunes, while Windies opt out of playing T20s in Lahore
Pakistan change will take time: Inzamam
Former Pakistan captain Inzmam-ul-Haq has warned it will take time to turn around the team’s fortunes following his appointment as the Pakistan Cricket Board’s chief selector.
Inzamam is heading the new-look selection panel unveiled by the PCB on Monday, having resigned from his post as coach of Afghanistan.
While Pakistan briefly rose to No.2 in the ICC Test Rankings last year after defeating England in the UAE in November, they have not been able to find the same success in limited-overs cricket.
After losing to Bangladesh in the Asia Cup earlier this year, Pakistan then missed out on a spot in the tournament’s final, before they were eliminated in the Super 10 stage of the World T20 following losses to India, New Zealand and Australia.
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Those results saw coach Waqar Younis and captain Shahid Afridi step down at the end of the World T20, while the selection committee was also disbanded.
"I don't have a magic wand and things will take time. But you will see change soon," Inzamam, who previously served as Pakistan's batting consultant in 2012, said during a press conference in Lahore on Monday.
Inzamam, who captained Pakistan from 2003-2007, has named former players Tauseef Ahmed, Wasim Haider and Wajahatullah Wasti in his selection committee.
"I hope that I will be allowed to work independently," Inzamam said.
"The perception is that I used to get my way as captain.
"But as the chief selector, my role will be different and I hope that the captain, coach and my team are all on the same page.
"When I was the captain I used to give my input and now I'm on the other side so I will be taking input from all of them.
"I have included a spinner (Tauseef), a fast bowler (Wasim Haider) and Wajahatullah Wasti (a batsman) so we have an expert for each discipline."
Pakistan will play three Tests in Australia next summer but their next assignment is a four-Test, five-ODI and one T20 tour of England, where they haven’t toured since 2010.
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They are then due to host the West Indies in two Tests, five one-day and two Twenty20 internationals in September and October.
It was hoped the T20 leg of the West Indies tour would be played on Pakistan soil in Lahore, but the World T20 champions have turned down the invitation due to security fears.
Zimbabwe are the only team to have toured in Pakistan since a 2009 terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team, playing two T20s and three one-day internationals in Lahore last year, but the entirety of the Windies tour will now be played in the United Arab Emirates.
"We wanted the Twenty20s to be played in Pakistan and made an effort but the West Indies Cricket Board have refused saying they have security fears, so the full series will be played in (the) United Arab Emirates,” PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan said.