Qasim turns down request to continue

Former test spinner Iqbal Qasim has turned down a request by the head of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to continue as chief selector.



Qasim resigned yesterday after Australia completed a 5-0 whitewash of Pakistan in the one-day series. Pakistan lost the test series 3-0 to the Australians.



PCB chief Ijaz Butt told reporters in Lahore that he had not accepted Qasim\'s resignation and had requested him to stay on until the 20/Twenty World Cup, which begins in the West Indies in April.



Qasim was made chief of a five-member selection committee when he came in as a replacement for former legspinner Abdul Qadir in July last year.



The Pakistan parliament\'s standing committee on sports welcomed Qasim\'s decision to resign.



Committee chairman Jamshed Dasti says Qasim has started a good tradition by stepping down.



He further said he is hoping the rest of the PCB leadership, including Butt and coach Intikhab Alam will also quit.



Dasti has already recommended to Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, who is also the patron of the PCB, that he remove the board\'s hierarchy.



Dasti has summoned the country\'s leading board members to a meeting in Islamabad on Wednesday.