In the face of accusations, former cricket captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has taken a defensive stance. He has acknowledged that he serves as a director at Yazoo Company but clarified that the company is not involved in managing cricketers.
It’s worth noting that among the other directors of this company are wicketkeeper Muhammad Rizwan and players’ agent Talha Rahmani, leading to allegations of a conflict of interest for Inzamam.
Inzamam admitted during an interview with a private TV channel that he holds the position of a director in Yazoo Company. However, he emphasized that this company is not engaged in player management. He also expressed that if the cricket board had required him to disclose this role before appointing him, he would have done so willingly. Inzamam asserted that there have been no transactions involving this company and questioned why he has been singled out for questioning, while Talha Rahmani, who serves as a director in both companies, has not been approached.
Inzamam clarified that Yazoo Company was established during the COVID-19 pandemic with the intention of selling bicycle helmets on Amazon, but their business endeavors in this regard did not yield success.
Furthermore, Inzamam addressed the issue of player management, highlighting that Shadow Corporation is responsible for managing player contracts and endorsements. He mentioned that the decision regarding central contracts was made in June, and he assumed his position in August. Inzamam played a role in resolving the contractual issues between players, particularly between Babar Azam and Zaka Ashraf, which had remained unresolved.
Inzamam also touched on discussing ICC revenue with the captain and suggested that this matter should not be pursued further, as it would improve in the future. He asserted that the records and tax payments of Shadow Corporation are available for scrutiny.
It’s essential to remember that a five-member committee was formed by the head of the PCB management committee, Zaka Ashraf, to investigate allegations of a conflict of interest against Inzamam.
In response to questions about resuming his position, Inzamam revealed that when he was offered the role of chief selector, he initially declined due to concerns about his health. He was promised that such situations would be avoided in the future. Inzamam emphasized that he has not exerted control over the players and called on people not to belittle his contributions.
Inzamam also reflected on his decision to resign, indicating that he did so to facilitate an inquiry. He mentioned that in times of team losses, non-cricketers often criticize and blame the players. He concluded by highlighting the importance of consistent board policies to prevent such issues from arising. Inzamam expressed regret over accepting the chief selector role and refuted allegations that he influenced player selection.