Misbah to quit Pakistan chief selector’s role

Lahore, Pakistan - Former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq has decided to step down as the chief selector of the men's cricket team, a role he held for over a year. Misbah, however, will continue as the head coach of the team, and will pick the squads for the upcoming home series against Zimbabwe as well as the tour of New Zealand in December.

"I want to announce that I am leaving the responsibility as chief selector," he said at a press conference on Wednesday. "The rationale behind my decision is that in the next two years, we have ten major series and many of them are away tours. So it's tough for me to work as chief selector while watching out for domestic cricket.

"Anyway, there was always an understanding between me and the PCB that whenever I feel difficulty, I can leave this additional responsibility. I have thoroughly enjoyed the dual roles but after reviewing the past 12 months and looking ahead at the workload in the next 24 months of my tenure, it is the right time to take a call [so] that I can fully invest my focus on the coaching role."

ESPNcricinfo understands another reason that led to Misbah's decision was the implementation of the PCB's new code of ethics that was put in place to remove issues arising from conflict of interest. However, when he had taken over the dual selector-coach role in September 2019, this specific code of ethics - which was ratified in July 2020 - did not exist.

Misbah's case came under the spotlight under a potential conflict of interest, with him being selector and head coach of the Pakistan national side as well as having a contract with Islamabad United as head coach for the fifth edition of the PSL.