National selector Aaqib Javed said on Tuesday he was ready to take responsibility for squad selection as a member of the selection committee, while defending the mid-series release of seven players and coaching staff changes ahead of the third Test against England in Birmingham.

The remarks came as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) issued a notice to selection committee members - Aaqib Javed, Misbah-ul-Haq and Asad Shafiq - seeking written explanations within 24 hours over the basis and rationale for recommending Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq for the Test squad. The notice specifically referred to a June 2 selection committee meeting whose minutes were submitted on July 1. Separately, Misbah-ul-Haq decided to resign from the selection committee, sources close to the former Pakistan captain said.

During the programme, Aaqib said he had spoken to both the captain and coach before the second Test about including fast bowler Ubaid Shah to vary the pace attack, but the suggestions were not acted upon. Aaqib also defended the decision to release seven players mid-series, saying established performers could not be immune from accountability when they failed to compete on tour.

Responding to a question, Aaqib rejected allegations made by former red-ball coach Jason Gillespie that Aaqib had sought complete control and driven him out. He acknowledged that foreign coaches including Gillespie and Gary Kirsten had not spent adequate time in Pakistan, and added that the core problem facing Pakistan cricket was not selection or coaching but the quality of available players.