PCB selector Ilyas resigned over Fawad Alam’s selection

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Cricket Board selector Mohammad Ilyas’ submitted his resignation following a disagreement with chief selector Mohsin Khan over the inclusion of left handed middle order batsman Fawad Alam.

“Ilyas was very unhappy with Fawad Alam’s selection in the Twenty/20 squad for New Zealand, and as a result of this decision he resigned. He (Ilyas) is of the opinion that Fawad does not deserve a place in the Twenty/20 squad and that there are more deserving players than Fawad who should have been chosen ahead of the 25 year old National Bank batsman,” PakPassion.net quoted sources close to the selection committee, as saying.

Though Ilyas did not forward his son-in-law and opening batsman Imran Farhat’s name as a replacement for Fawad, he did question why he was being persisted with despite a highest twenty over international score of only twenty eight, and a paltry average of only 18.50 in sixteen innings spread over twenty three matches.

He subsequently resigned after the announcement of the Test and Twenty20 squads for the upcoming New Zealand tour, but his resignation was rejected by PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt.

Following discussions with Butt, Ilyas withdrew his resignation. Sources close to the selection committee said tensions are high between him and Mohsin, and that Ilyas’ decision to continue as selector might be short lived.

“Ilyas is a strong minded character and will stand up against something that he does not approve of. Ilyas is of the opinion that Fawad does not warrant his selection in the squad and made his feelings clear during the recent selection committee meetings. He was unhappy though that he was overruled and no strong argument was given for the inclusion of Fawad,” sources said. (ANI)