ISLAMABAD - Former pacer Sarfraz Nawaz lashed out at the tactics of head coach Waqar Younis and termed it harmful for Pakistan cricket just like he played key role in the shameful defeat of Pakistan against Bangladesh in 1999 World Cup.
Talking to The Nation, Sarfraz said: “I am shocked and very first thing comes in my mind is that Waqar and company are on a mission to take green caps to new lows. How come a coach can deliberately keep opener Sarfraz Ahmad for the late middle order, when the wicketkeeper batsman had scored loads of runs as opener. It seems Waqar is taking revenge from not only Sarfraz but also from the entire team, as it was Sarfraz's extraordinary performance during the world cup, which dented Waqar's ambitions.
“Sarfraz was not considered for crunch world cup matches even then the youngster came up with wonders and delivered for the team, but instead of sending Sarfraz or Sami Aslam as regular openers, Waqar once again decided to experiment and skipper Azhar Ali was moved up the order and opened the innings against Bangladesh Cricket Board XI and lost the match very badly. What a shame, green caps should have easily beaten the national side of Bangladesh instead of losing against B team. As per expectations, Hafeez, Fawad and Junaid Khan performed exceptionally, while rest were just miserable,” Sarfraz added. The former pacer said there was big question mark on not only Waqar’s coaching but also on the team management. “Hafeez and Juniad should have been part of the world cup squad, as Hafeez could have easily recovered in time and Fawad has also showed he deserves better treatment. It all looks fishy fishy, as the management failed to make a balanced combination. In my opinion the best strong team should have been picked keeping in mind the first ODI against the Bengal Tigers, as we can't afford experiments. Waqar is the main culprit, and he always puts his personal ego over the country's interests.”
Sarfraz also came down hard on PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan and Najam Sethi and termed them useless for the board and Pakistan cricket. “Shaharyar and Sethi only embark on meetings and have no cricketing background. Shahryar is too old, and forgets about what he has said. I am quite surprised why Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif is keeping a mum on the PCB affairs despite being fully aware what is going on in the board. It is my humble request to the PM to take action against the tainted persons and remove Waqar, Muhstaq and others, who had brought bad name to the country.”
The ex-pacer said PCB COO Subhan Ahmed manipulated things who always put his right men up front to get things in his favour. “Subhan must be shown door to ensure smooth functioning of the board and deserving people, with best cricketing knowledge, should replace him. It is my challenge, things will be crystal clear and the same team will start performing well if my suggestions will be acted upon.”
He said that the domestic committee should be dissolved as they had badly failed to streamline domestic structure. “Fitness issues are yet to be resolved. Everybody is fully aware about the physical condition of our players. All the physical trainers in the PCB should be sacked and must be replaced by qualified ones. PCB is occupied by mafias who have been destroying Pakistan cricket with each passing day. The same old faces can't bring any revolutionary changes and there is a dire need to bring in technocrats and qualified persons with cricketing knowledge and background, which will surely improve the standard of Pakistan cricket and the cricket crazy nation will witness good news one after another,” Sarfraz concluded.