Qadir took 236 Test and 132 one-day wickets for Pakistan between 1977-93

Pakistan chief selector Abdul Qadir has resigned with immediate effect.

The 53-year-old former leg-spinner, who took charge last November, said his decision was not connected with the team's 48-run defeat against England.

"Like others, I am also hurt with the defeat but it has nothing to do with it," he said. "I have resigned from my post in the best interests of Pakistan.

"I played my cricket with respect and wanted the same as selector but things were not like that."

Pakistan Cricket Board chief operating officer Salim Altaf insisted the move was not prompted by one particular incident.

"We don't know the reasons," he said. "He just handed in his resignation to the chairman who accepted it."

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Some reports suggested Qadir was unhappy with the inclusion of paceman Rao Iftikhar as a replacement for injured Shoaib Akhtar at the World Twenty20, amid rumours of a row with PCB chairman Ijaz Butt.

Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam dismissed suggestion that Qadir's departure would unsettle the team's Twenty20 squad ahead of Tuesday's deciding Group B qualifying clash with the Netherlands.

"I have heard about this, but I don't know why he has resigned," Alam said. "It doesn't affect us at the moment in this tournament and it is something which we will sort out once we get home."

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