Former Test player Iqbal Qasim likely to be appointed chief selector

September 7th, 2009 LAHORE - Former Pakistan captain Imran Khan has advised bad boy of Pakistan cricket Shoaib Akhtar not to waste his last few years of international cricket and try to work hard to get back into the team and then go out with honour and pride. Shoaib went to attend a fund-raising campaign for Imran's Shaukat Khanum Research Cancer Hospital, but declined to speak on cricket issues with the media.

August 22nd, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Supporting the selection committee's decision to bring back tainted fast bowler Mohammad Asif into the national squad for the ICC Champions Trophy, chief selector Iqbal Qasim has said the decision to include Asif was taken only after a close monitoring of the bowler in the fitness camp. Qasim said Asif has been made to go through a rigorous fitness test in which he performed satisfactorily.

August 21st, 2009 LAHORE - The seven member selection committee of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday controversially recalled paceman Mohammad Asif and opener Imran Nazir, but omitted all-rounder Abdul Razzaq from their 15-man squad for next month's Champions Trophy in South Africa. Pakistan is placed in Group A of the eight-nation Champions Trophy to be held from September 20 to October 5.

August 21st, 2009 LAHORE - Tainted Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif has cleared a 'tough' fitness test enhancing his chances of securing a place in the ICC Champions Trophy squad. Former wicketkeeper captain Rashid Latif, who is supervising Asif's rehabilitation, confirmed Asif clearing the multi-stage fitness test.

August 20th, 2009 LAHORE - Pakistan cricket chief selector Iqbal Qasim has ruled out ontroversial speedster Shoaib Akhtar's chances of getting into the ICC Champions Trophy squad. Qasim said there is only a 'remote' possibility of Akhtar getting a place in the team through a 'wild card'.

August 19th, 2009 LAHORE - The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has asked tainted fast bowler Mohammad Asif to join a coaching camp for young players to ascertain his fitness level before the ICC Champions Trophy. "Asif is attending the training camp for Under-23 players in Karachi where we have asked camp commandant Rashid Latif to give us a report by Thursday (tomorrow) whether he is match fit for the Champions Trophy," The Daily Times quoted chief selector Iqbal Qasim, as saying.

August 18th, 2009 KARACHI - Tainted Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif, who is eyeing a place back in the national squad, has impressed chief selector Iqbal Qasim with his form and fitness in a low-profile match. Qasim along with other member of the selection committee, Saleem Jaffer, watched Asif play during a match between youngsters attending an Under-23 Emerging Players Camp, and looked satisfied with the speedsters performance.

August 10th, 2009 LAHORE - Pakistan's chief cricket selector Iqbal Qasim has said controversial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar still has a future with the national side, but he must prove his fitness to be seriously considered. "The door is not closed on Shoaib, he can still play cricket for Pakistan in future.

August 10th, 2009 LAHORE - Pakistan's national cricket selectors Mohammad Illyas and Azhar Khan watched fast bowler Mohammad Asif bowl in a match in Lahore on Sunday. "He bowled a seven-over spell and the report from the selectors is a positive one," The News quoted chief selector Iqbal Qasim, as saying.

August 9th, 2009 LAHORE - Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif will have to prove his physical fitness on Sunday before being considered for the ICC Champions Trophy. The 26-year-old pacer, whose career had plummeted after he failed a dope test during the Indian Premier League's (IPL) inaugural season, is hoping to find a place in Pakistani team after serving a one-year ban imposed by the PCB.

August 8th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Cricket Board's newly appointed chief selector Iqbal Qasim has stated that controversial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar still has a future in international cricket. Qasim said: "The door is not closed on Shoaib Akhtar, he can still play cricket for Pakistan in future, however what he needs to do is to prove to the selection committee that he is fit enough for international cricket." Speaking exclusively to PakPassion.net, he said the reports that the selectors received were that Akhtar was not fit enough to be eligible for selection for the 30 man preliminary squad for the Champions Trophy and they took note of those reports accordingly.

August 6th, 2009 KARACHI - Pakistan's chief selector and former Test spinner, Iqbal Qasim, believes that in a country like Pakistan, a selector's job is both tough and thankless. Qasim, who took 171 wickets from 50 Tests, took over as the chairman of the national selection committee on August 1.

July 31st, 2009 LAHORE - Pakistan chief selector Iqbal Qasim has backed the cricket board's decision to hand over the Twenty-20 captaincy to Shahid Afridi. Talking to media persons at the Gaddafi Stadium here, Qasim said Afridi was the 'right choice' for leading the team after Younis Khan's retirement from the latest version of the game, The Daily Times reports.

July 13th, 2009 KARACHI - Former Test spinner Iqbal Qasim was Monday installed as the new Pakistan chief cricket selector. Qasim, 55, will take over from another former Test cricketer Wasim Bari, who served as an interim chief selector following the resignation of Abdul Qadir as the chairman of the national selection committee last month because of differences with the Pakistan team management and senior board officials.

June 30th, 2009 KARACHI - The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Tuesday disbanded the national senior and junior selection committees with immediate effect. The move was on the cards after former chief selector Abdul Qadir resigned midway during the World Twenty20 earlier this month citing differences with the PCB.