Salahuddin resigns over team change

KARACHI: Pakistan chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed on Thursday said that he had resigned after the cricket administrators here made changes in the squad selected for the four-nation international Twenty20 tournament that gets underway in Toronto on Friday.
    
Salahuddin, who served in the selection committee on several occasions previously, tendered his resignation to the new Chairman Ejaz Butt on Wednesday.
    
Salahuddin said his decision was based on principle as he didn't like anyone interfering in the work of the selectors or questioning their judgement.
    
"I can confirm we had selected off break bowler, Saeed Ajmal in the 15-member squad for the Toronto tournament. But the team was later changed and Ajmal was dropped and rookie opener, Shoaib Khan was included in his place.
    
"I don't know if it was the sports ministry to whom the team was sent for approval or someone in the cricket board or the team management but I am hurt that no one even had the courtesy to tell me this change was being made for whatever reasons," Salahuddin said.
    
The chief selector was on his way from Lahore to Karachi then the team was sent to the ministry for approval.

Salahuddin learnt of the change after he reached Karachi and was asked by media people at the airport about Ajmal being replaced by Shoaib Khan.
    
"They should have told me they were making the change. Shoaib is a promising player and we had him in mind for the future. But his inclusion means there are four openers in the team now," he said.
    
However, the two other members of the selection committee, Saleem Jaffer and Shafqat Rana said they had not resigned as yet.
    
"Salahuddin told us we should make our own decision he was resigning because of the change in the team. If the new Chairman wants us to continue we will do so and he wants to bring someone else we have no problems," one selector said.