Pakistan coach Misbah-ul-Haq has defended his association with Peshawar Zalmi captain Babar Azam after the Pakistan Cricket Board’s policy regarding its staff working with franchises in the Pakistan Super League came under scrutiny.
The PCB’s policy of allowing its staff to work with PSL franchises was questioned after Misbah confirmed that he was involved as a consultant with Peshawar Zalmi.
At the start of the PSL, the Pakistan board stopped Sarfaraz Ahmed and Wahab Riaz in association with the Quetta Gladiators franchise.
The board said that as per its policy, former players who were on the PCB payroll were not allowed to work in the PSL in any capacity as it was a conflict of interest.
But Misbah defended his involvement with Peshawar Zalmi despite being a paid national selector and batting advisor to the PCB.
“I signed a contract with Zalmi before I became the national selector and I work for them as a consultant only on certain days in the season,” Misbah told the media while wearing a Peshawar Zalmi jersey.
Asked how he got permission from the PCB to work in the PSL when Sarfaraz, who was with him on the selection committee, and Wahab were stopped from working with Quetta Gladiators, Misbah said that his case was different and that the PCB could best explain the matter.
Misbah, who also remained the national team’s head coach and chief selector and has been in some capacity on and off the PCB since 2019, said that as the national selector, he found it useful to work closely in the PSL and watch the young players in action.
“When you watch them and observe them closely and see how they react to a particular situation, it becomes easier for you as a national coach to make decisions,” he said.
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Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
10 Apr 2026 20:32 IST
