KARACHI: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Najam Sethi has spelt out the reasons for giving the dual responsibility of chief selector and managing the Pakistan team to former captain Moin Khan.
“We decided that if the chief selector was also the manager it would ensure the players don’t relax at any stage and were kept on their toes,” Sethi said in an interview.
“Normally, the practice has been that separate persons have been given the role of chief selector and manager. But this meant that firstly the chief selector could not be with the team on tours to personally monitor performance and attitude of players and secondly it meant that at times liberties were taken with the manager,” the PCB chief added.
Sethi said giving Moin the dual role meant that he would now be present with the team on all tours as manager, and added that this would allow him to monitor the performances and attitude of players himself also as chief selector.
“And it would also push the players into giving their best knowing the manager was also the chief selector,” he explained.
Asked as to why Moin was also placed on the committee which is tasked with recommending the new head coach, fielding coach, batting coach, spin consultant of the national team, Sethi said since Moin would have to work closely with the new head coach and other coaching staff as manager/chief selector it was best he was also in the loop in the selection process for the support staff.
Pakistan’s former Test captain and legendary pace bowler, Waqar Younis is now seen as a clear favourite to be appointed as head coach.
Moin himself said serving on two important positions didn’t mean any added pressures for him as having represented Pakistan for a long time in international cricket he was capable of delivering in pressure situations.