KARACHI — The chief selector of Pakistan’s national cricket team resigned on Sunday after their defeat in a one-day series against Australia, saying he was disappointed with the team’s performance.
Iqbal Qasim announced his resignation soon after Pakistan’s 5-0 defeat on Sunday in the one-day series against Australia in Perth.
“I am very disappointed, like millions of Pakistanis, over the manner in which the Pakistan team lost the Test series 3-0 and one-day series 5-0,” Qasim told AFP.
“As I am responsible for the selection of the team, I quit from my post.”
Pakistan won the World Twenty20 last year but have since suffered a number of defeats. The Pakistan Cricket Board has said it will appoint a new captain to replace current skipper Mohammad Yousuf after the Australia tour.
Qasim, 56, was appointed chairman of a seven-man national selection committee in July last year, after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) disbanded the national senior and junior selection committees the previous month.
Qasim said he had made up his mind to quit after team’s fourth one-day defeat on Friday.
“The selection committee, which I headed, did its best to select the best possible team for the Tests as well as for the one-day matches, but it did not live up to the expectations of the fans who are badly hurt,” he said.
“I am also badly hurt and disappointed, so as a man of character I have taken this decision and hope that a proper post-mortem of the team’s performance is done by the PCB to help Pakistan cricket move forward.”
PCB spokesman Nadeem Sarwar said he had only heard about Qasim’s resignation through the media.
“We have not received his resignation and I too got to know of this news through the media. Once the decision is conveyed, only then we will take the matter further,” Sarwar told AFP.
Pakistan’s twin tours of New Zealand and Australia got off to the worst possible start after the original captain Younus Khan withdrew on the eve of team’s departure in November last year.
Younus cited lack of batting form for his decision, forcing the PCB to appoint Mohammad Yousuf as captain.
Yousuf, who drew the three-Test series 1-1 in New Zealand, was retained as captain for the Australia tour after Younus did not make himself available for the tour of Australia which followed New Zealand trip.
Iqbal Qasim announced his resignation soon after Pakistan’s 5-0 defeat on Sunday in the one-day series against Australia in Perth.
“I am very disappointed, like millions of Pakistanis, over the manner in which the Pakistan team lost the Test series 3-0 and one-day series 5-0,” Qasim told AFP.
“As I am responsible for the selection of the team, I quit from my post.”
Pakistan won the World Twenty20 last year but have since suffered a number of defeats. The Pakistan Cricket Board has said it will appoint a new captain to replace current skipper Mohammad Yousuf after the Australia tour.
Qasim, 56, was appointed chairman of a seven-man national selection committee in July last year, after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) disbanded the national senior and junior selection committees the previous month.
Qasim said he had made up his mind to quit after team’s fourth one-day defeat on Friday.
“The selection committee, which I headed, did its best to select the best possible team for the Tests as well as for the one-day matches, but it did not live up to the expectations of the fans who are badly hurt,” he said.
“I am also badly hurt and disappointed, so as a man of character I have taken this decision and hope that a proper post-mortem of the team’s performance is done by the PCB to help Pakistan cricket move forward.”
PCB spokesman Nadeem Sarwar said he had only heard about Qasim’s resignation through the media.
“We have not received his resignation and I too got to know of this news through the media. Once the decision is conveyed, only then we will take the matter further,” Sarwar told AFP.
Pakistan’s twin tours of New Zealand and Australia got off to the worst possible start after the original captain Younus Khan withdrew on the eve of team’s departure in November last year.
Younus cited lack of batting form for his decision, forcing the PCB to appoint Mohammad Yousuf as captain.
Yousuf, who drew the three-Test series 1-1 in New Zealand, was retained as captain for the Australia tour after Younus did not make himself available for the tour of Australia which followed New Zealand trip.
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