May 20, 2007	Sunday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 03, 1428

LAHORE, May 19: Salahuddin Ahmed, a member of the Performance Evaluation Committee (PEC) that probed Pakistan’s failure in the 2007 World Cup and declared former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq as an autocrat, said the title for him was not decided by the committee but on the basis of the views of different players.

Talking to Dawn Salahuddin said various players, who had been playing with Inzamam, gave their comments to the PEC about his strict attitude with them, and added that the players’ statements had been recorded on audio cassettes.

Salahuddin, who was also elevated as the chairman selection committee during the probe, said Inzamam was a great batsman and the committee had no bias against him.

“We did our efforts honestly and I think that is why the report of the committee has been appreciated by the public,” he opined.

“Inzamam had become an introvert and autocratic captain particularly after The Oval fiasco when his refusal to go to the field was overlooked by the then PCB chief Shaharyar M. Khan,” the report had stated about Inzamam.

Inzamam, in a response to the committee’s statement, had said only players whom he had been playing with were in a position to give remarks about his attitude with them.

Inzamam’s men failed to qualify for the second round of the World Cup held in the West Indies after losing the first-round matches to the West Indies and minnows Ireland.

Due to the poor results (in the World Cup), Inzamam announced his retirement from One-day Internationals besides stepping down from the captaincy, while deciding to continue Test cricket.

Asked about Inzamam’s future as a Test cricketer, Salahuddin said the best decision in the interest of Pakistan would be taken.

“To me Pakistan comes first and not an individual. However, Inzamam will be given a fair chance to prove his match fitness and form to claim a place in the Test side,” Salahuddin stated.

Recalling skipper Imran Khan’s decision to declare the innings in a 1982-83 home Test at Hyderabad against India at a stage when Javed Miandad was only 20 runs short of a triple-century, Salahuddin said: “I think Imran had preferred the interest of Pakistan over that of an individual (Miandad) and that should be the spirit.”

Reiterating a firm policy adopted on players’ fitness, the chief selector said there would be no compromise on it.

On Pakistan’s first win after the World Cup debacle in the opening match of a three-match series against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi on Friday, Salahuddin said though the players did a good job he would prefer to analyse their overall performance at the end of the series.

“The start is good and I would like Pakistan to end the series on a winning note which is most important for all of us,” he expressed.