Karachi: The Pakistan Cricket Board on Thursday cocked a snook at the International Cricket Council by naming Inzamam-ul Haq as skipper of the 14-member Pakistan team for the Champions Trophy tournament to be hosted by India in October-November.
By naming Inzamam in the squad, PCB reaffirmed its stand that it did not consider him guilty of ball-tampering charges or bringing the game into disrepute during last month's controversial fourth Test at the Oval.
Inzamam, 36, is due to attend a code of conduct hearing of the ICC in London later this month. If the charges are proved against Inzamam, he could be banned for eight one-dayers and thereby miss out on the Champions Trophy.
Inzamam was charged after Pakistan refused to continue playing the fourth Test against England to protest the decision by umpires Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove to change the ball and penalise them five runs for ball-tampering.
A PCB official said the Pakistan stand was clear -- it was confident that he would be cleared at the hearing to be adjudicated by Sri Lankan match referee Ranjan Madugalle.
"Even if the ICC decides to impose some ban or fine on him we are confident it would not be for too many matches. Then we have the option of filing an appeal immediately which means he can play in the Champions Trophy," the official said.
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