Will sacked chief selector Haroon Rasheed reenter PCB as Director of Cricket Operations?

Just two months after being sacked as chief selector, former Test cricketer, Haroon Rasheed is being tipped to reenter the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as the new Director of Cricket Operations. 

Haroon, who was also released from his employment in the PCB when the board dissolved the national selection committee in April, has applied for the new position being created in the cricket set-up which has undergone some changes after the national teams disappointing show in the Asia Cup and World T20 in India. He is a strong contender for the new post since he is very close to some of the senior officials in the board including the head of the executive committee, Najam Sethi, one well-placed source told PTI. 

The board had released Haroon and other members of the selection committee from employment as part of the reforms in the board recommended by a fact-finding committee. The changes have included the appointments of former test captain, Inzamam-ul-Haq as chief selector, Mickey Arthur as the new head coach of the national team and former Test player, Mudassar Nazar as Director academies. The board has also removed Shahid Afridi as captain of the national T20 squad and appointed wicketkeeper Sarfaraz Ahmed in his place. 

The source said that Haroon was a strong contender since he was also very keen to get back into the PCB and the new post was also advertised keeping him in mind. The advertisement to hire the Director cricket operations was only posted so that Haroon could be hired as he meets all the stipulated conditions required for the position including having 10 years or more experience of having worked in top cricket positions, the source said. 

He said Sethi had also opposed the sacking of Haroon when the PCB Chairman, Shaharyar Khan decided to make changes in some areas of the cricket set-up. Recently at the Board of Governors meeting when the issue of hiring a new Director cricket operations came up and Haroon's name was mentioned, Shaharyar didn't support giving him another shot at any post in the PCB but majority of members said if he applied he should be considered, the source said. 

Haroon has already worked in the board in different capacities including that of manager, coach, chief selector and Director game development.