LAHORE: Pakistan Head Coach Misbah ul Haq on Wednesday announced retirement from the post of chief selector to focus on the job of head coach.

“I have taken this step to focus more on the responsibilities of head coach. I had no pressure for stepping down from the post of chief selector, it is my own decision,” Misbah ul Haq said while addressing media briefing in Lahore.

He denied that he was relinquishing with selector’s job because he received much wrath over defeat or bad show of the team.

The new chief selector will take charge on Dec 1 and until then, Misbah will continue to carry out selection responsibilities.

The decision means Misbah will announce the squads for the home series against Zimbabwe on 19 October and then for the away series against New Zealand.

The first assignment of the new chief selector will be to select the squads for the January home series against South Africa, comprising two Tests and three Twenty20 Internationals.

Misbah communicated his decision to PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan in Islamabad last week during the National T20 Cup.

Commenting on his decision, Misbah-ul-Haq said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed the dual roles but after reviewing the past 12 months and looking ahead at the workload in the next 24 months of my tenure, it is appropriate that I invest and dedicate all my time, energy and attention to one role from now on.

“Coaching is my passion and my ultimate objective remains to contribute to the development of players and help the side achieve bigger successes. When I was appointed last year, I was offered the coaching role first and then given the option to also head the selection committee, which I had graciously accepted.”