File picture of chief selector of the Pakistan cricket squad Inzamam-ul-Haq
| Photo Credit: AP

Former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has stepped down as Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) chief selector on Sunday after allegations of a conflict of interest.

His resignation comes after Pakistani media reported one of his co-directors in a U.K.-based company, Yazoo International Ltd, is managing director of Saya Corporation, an agency representing some major Pakistani cricketers.

The players include captain Babar Azam, bowler Shaheen Afridi and wicketkeeper and batter Mohammad Rizwan, who is also a director at Yazoo, according to U.K. public sector database gov.uk.

“I am stepping down from the post to offer the PCB the opportunity to conduct a transparent inquiry,” Inzamam said in a statement released by the board. “If the committee finds me not guilty, I will resume my role as the chief selector.”

The PCB said it had set up a five-member fact-finding committee to look into the allegations.

The allegations surfaced in the middle of Pakistan’s struggling World Cup campaign, where they sit seventh in the points table after four successive defeats. It is their worst losing streak in tournament history.

It was another day, another run feast for South Africa!

At the Wankhede Stadium on October 24, it rode on Quinton de Kock’s 174 and a blitzkrieg 90 from Heinrich Klassen to plunder 144 off the last ten overs, and put up a mammoth 382 for five, before handing a 149-run defeat to Bangladesh and bolster its chances of a last-four spot in the World Cup.

Had it not been for Mahmadullah (111, 111b, 11×4, 4×6) waging a lone battle after the Proteas’ pace attack took the fizz out of the chase, Bangladesh wouldn’t have reached 233.

The seasoned batter delayed the inevitable with a few big hits and forged a 68-run partnership for the ninth wicket with Mustafizur Rahman. But for a side that was reeling at 58 for 5 in 15 overs after Marco Jansen jolted its top-order, Mahmadullah’s efforts were not enough to avoid the fourth defeat on the trot.

The day, however, belonged to de Kock.

Featuring in his 150th ODI, he became the sixth batter to score three hundreds in a single edition of the tournament and also overtook Virat Kohli as the highest run-getter (407).

Banking on his experience of playing at the iconic venue during his long stint with Mumbai Indians, de Kock guided his team to becoming the first side to register three 350-plus scores in a single World Cup edition.

A couple of days ago, it hammered 143 runs in its last ten overs against England, and on a rather flat deck, South Africa extended its tally by a run against Bangladesh, despite wobbling at 36 for 2 inside eight overs.

Early on, Bangladesh showed intent as Shoriful Islam made good use of the new ball and castled Reeza Hendricks, while Rassie van der Dussen was trapped leg before by Mehidy Hasan Miraz.

However, the joy was short-lived as de Kock rebuilt with stand-in captain Aiden Markram (60, 69b, 7×4) and forged a 131-run partnership for the third wicket. The two got into the groove, played shots at will, adding to Bangladesh’s woes.

By the time, Markram mistimed a Shakib delivery and lofted it down to Litton Das at long-off, the foundation was laid for the middle-order to take things forward. Coming into the game from his assault against England, Klaasen hit Shakib for a six, and there was no looking back for him.

As the surface aided the batters, Klaasen continued his carnage – hitting Hasan Mahmud for a boundary and a six – and shortly after de Kock reached his century, both the batters sent Bangladesh bowlers on a leather hunt.

When a ‘tired’ de Kock finally departed amid standing ovation, South Africa needed to put the final touches to its innings and David Miller lived up to the expectations with a 14-ball-34.

Scoreboard

South Africa Innings: Quinton De Kock c Ahmed b Mahmud 174 Reeza Hendricks b Islam 12 Rassie van der Dussen lbw Miraz 1 Aiden Markram c Das b Shakib 60 Heinrich Klaasen c Mahmudullah b Mahmud 90 David Miller not out 34 Marco Jansen not out 1 Extras (LB-3, W-7) 10

Total (For Five Wickets In 50 overs) 382

Fall of Wickets: 1-33, 2-36, 3-167, 4-309, 5-374.

Bangladesh bowling: Mustafizur Rahman 9-0-76-0, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 9-0-44-1, Shoriful Islam 9-0-76-1, Shakib Al Hasan 9-0-69-1, Hasan Mahmud 6-0-67-2, Nasum Ahmed 5-0-27-0, Mahmudullah 3-0-20-0.

Bangladesh innings: Tanzid Hasan c Klaasen b Jansen 12 Litton Das lbw Rabada 22 Najmul Shanto c Klaasen b Jansen 0 Shakib Al Hasan c Klaasen b Williams 1 Mushfiqur Rahim c sub b Coetzee 8 Mahmudullah c Jansen b Coetzee 111 Mehidy Hasan Miraz c sub b Maharaj 11 Nasum Ahmed c&b Coetzee 19 Hasan Mahmud c Coetzee v Rabada 15 Mustafizur Rahman c Miller b Williams 11 Shoriful Islam (not out) 6 Extras (LB-2, NB-2, W-13) 17

Total (all out in 46.4 overs) 233

Fall of wickets: 1-30, 2-30, 3-31, 4-42, 5-58, 6-81, 7-122, 8-159, 9-227.

South Africa bowling: Marco Jansen 8-0-39-2, Lizaad Williams 8.4-1-56-2, Gerald Coetzee 10-0-62-3, Kagiso Rabada 10-1-42-2, Keshav Maharaj 10-0-32-1.

Australia’s Marcus Stoinis speaks to the umpire after losing his wicket, caught by South Africa’s Quinton de Kock off the bowling of Kagiso Rabada as Marnus Labuschagne looks on, during the ICC Cricket World Cup match in Lucknow on October 12, 2023
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne said the team would seek clarity from World Cup match officials about the controversial manner in which Marcus Stoinis was given out following a review in their heavy defeat by South Africa on Thursday.

All-rounder Stoinis was adjudged caught behind off a Kagiso Rabada delivery during the 18th over of Australia’s unsuccessful chase of 312 after a review of the call by the on-field umpire, despite the batsman’s bottom hand looking to be off the bat as the ball struck his glove.

Third umpire Richard Kettleborough adjudged that although Stoinis’ right glove was off the bat handle, it was in contact with the left one which was holding on to the bat. But TV replays appeared to show a gap between the gloves.

“The hand’s connected to his top hand, therefore in contact with the bat and we’ve got a clear spike,” Kettleborough said as he asked on-field umpire Joel Wilson to reverse his original decision and give the batsman out.

A shocked Stoinis spoke with the on-field umpires before eventually leaving for the dugout.

“It was certainly confusing and I’m sure we’ll get clarity or we’re going to seek for clarity because it’s a World Cup and we don’t want small decisions that can be avoided to change the outcomes of games,” Australia batsman Labuschagne said.

“Obviously, in the situation we were in it’s hard to say that it was going to change the outcome but for the future you certainly want to make sure we get them right.”

Labuschagne, whose 46 was the only notable score in the 134-run defeat, said Australia were disappointed at not putting up a fight in their loss to India in Chennai and again in Lucknow and sought a response when they meet Sri Lanka on Monday.

“I’d consider us one of the top sides and it’s disappointing that we haven’t competed in the last two games,” he added. “But we’ve got to make sure we’re learning from these scenarios.

“We faced probably two polar opposite extremes, heavy spin conditions against probably three of the best, well, two of the best spinners India’s ever produced and probably one of the best white ball spinners and then here against the seaming swinging ball against a team that’s also good in those conditions.

“So, we’ve got to get better and we’ve got to make sure that we come back stronger for the next fixture.”