Former Pakistan cricketer, Inzamam ul Haq, has expressed his concerns regarding Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) new selection comittee, which will rely heavily on data-driven process. 

The new selection committee comprises of Haroon Rasheed (chair), Hassan Cheema (selection committee secretary and manager analytics and team strategy for national men’s side), Mickey Arthur (national men’s team’s director), and Grant Bradburn (national men’s team’s head coach).

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Inzamam voiced his opinion that selection should primarily be based on on-field performances rather than relying solely on statistical data.

“I have my reservations regarding the new selection committee and a lot of people in cricket circles feel the same way. If they had included cricketers, who would go to the ground and watch players perform, then it would have been better,” Inzamam said in a media interaction on Tuesday.

The 53-year-old further stated that he has never encountered or heard of such selection process in cricket before, doubting its effectiveness.

“I have never heard about data-based selection, nor is it possible anywhere. Selection should be done based on performances in the ground. Whatever cricket knowledge I have, I don’t think it is a good step,” he concluded.

On the contrary, Haroon Rasheed highlighted the significance of including a manager analytics and expert coaches in the new selection committee, stating that it would be instrumental in taking Pakistan cricket in a new direction. He specifically praised Hassan Cheema’s appointment, emphasizing the benefits it would bring to the committee.

“Including manager analytics with expert coaches in the new selection committee will be helpful in taking Pakistan cricket in a new direction. Hassan Cheema’s appointment will benefit us,” Rasheed told Cricket Pakistan. 

“People have a wrong perception when it comes to data, thinking it only consists of records of players and such. If that were the case, we could gather statistics ourselves from websites and other sources. It includes countless things, such as how a pitch behaves in the morning, what difference it makes after lunch, where fast bowlers can be successful, or which pitch can benefit spinners,” he added.