Iqbal Qasim calls time on selector role

Iqbal Qasim, chairman of the selection panel, has decided not to renew his contract with the PCB, citing domestic issues and his primary job as the head of the sports department at the National Bank of Pakistan. Qasim's contract was due to expire at the end of the month. The PCB has accepted Qasim's decision and, with the committee formally dissolved, said it will "consider the formation of the new selection committee" later this month.

"I have told the top officials of the PCB that I have completed my tenure so they should appoint a new selection panel for the future," Qasim told ESPNcricinfo. "I want to move on to my primary job with the bank. The reports about my differences with the captain and coach were incorrect and fabricated, and they have nothing to do with my ouster as it was planned months ago."

Qasim was appointed chief selector on a one-year contract in March 2012, after interim chief Mohammad Ilyas stepped down. He asked PCB to allow him to end his tenure in April, but the then president Zaka Ashraf asked Qasim to continue until the selection of the team for the West Indies tour. "After announcing the team, I asked once again to be relieved," Qasim said.

Qasim has had several stints on the selection panel. He was first appointed chairman of selectors in August 2009 but resigned in January 2010, following Pakistan's poor performance on their tour of Australia. The team was whitewashed in both the Test and ODI series and Shahid Afridi was banned for two T20 games for ball-tampering. Qasim was also a member of the selection committee until the 2007 World Cup; he had been appointed in an honorary post, while continuing as a senior employee with NBP.

In a statement issued on Qasim's behalf by the PCB, he stated: "It has been a great experience working with all of them and together we sincerely have tried to serve Pakistan and Pakistan cricket to the best of our abilities. I am also thankful to all the media for supporting the game of cricket, in general, and me, in particular, throughout my tenure."