Pakistan's chief cricket selector asks to step down

Pakistan's chief cricket selector Iqbal Qasim has asked to step down at the end of his tenure, he said today, denying any rift with the national team's captain and coach.
"I have told the top officials of the PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) that I have completed my tenure so they should appoint a new panel for future selection," Qasim told AFP.
Qasim led the selection committee which on Wednesday named squads for one-days and Twenty20s for this month's tour of the West Indies, dropping flopped players Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal and Imran Farhat, and recalling all-rounder Shahid Afridi.
Local media has regularly speculated about differences between Qasim, Pakistan cricket captain Misbah-ul Haq and coach Dav Whatmore, and Twenty20 captain Mohammad Hafeez over selection, but Qasim denied any rift.

"I had no differences with anyone," said Qasim, a former left arm spinner who played 50 Tests and 15 one-days for Pakistan.
"I completed my tenure in April but then PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf requested me to continue till (July and) the West Indies tour, which I did," said Qasim.

Qasim's committee came under criticism after the team crashed out of the Champions Trophy in England last month.
He has served repeated tenures as chief selector. In 2010, he resigned after the team's 3-0 rout in Australia in 2010.
"The team wins and the team loses, which is part of the game so there should be no differences," said Qasim. "I thank Misbah, Whatmore and Hafeez for their cooperation."

Pakistan officials are yet to decide on Qasim's request to go, but say that a new selection panel will be announced later.
Pakistan will play five one-day and two Twenty20 matches in the Caribbean. They will tour Zimbabwe in August for two Tests, three one-day and two Twenty20 matches.