Chief selector Mohsin refutes charges

BIPIN DANI MUMBAI - Mystery surrounds the identity of a national selector who was alleged to have been presented when the bookie was spotted in the players' hotel room during the last tour of England. In his testimony (via teleconference) before the ICC tribunal in Doha, the former security manager of the Pakistan cricket team, Major (retd) Khawaja Javed Najam revealed that he saw one selector was present when bookie approached to the players. Chairman selection committee Mohsin Khan, however, refuted the charges. "As far as I know, no selector was aware about the bookie's presence in the players' rooms," he told this scribe. He, however, agreed that all five national selectors were on duty on England tour at different time. The other national selector, Mohammad Ilyas also echoed the similar views. "I think the security manager is seeking cheap publicity by alleging this," he said. Interestingly, Ilyas had tendered his resignation over the omission of one player (name withheld), however, had revoked his resignation letter after being persuaded by PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt. For the record, the player which Ilyas wanted in the team found no favours ultimately though. "I don't want to reveal the name of the selector in public. I have already revealed the identity of the selector to the ICC," the security manager said to this scribe. The five Pakistan selectors are: Mohsin Hassan Khan (Chairman), Azhar Khan, Mohammad Ilyas, Asif Baloch and Farrukh Zaman. The last two are the co-opted members of the selection committee.

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