DUBAI - Poor team selection, non-professional approach costs Pakistan dearly against New Zealand in the series that just concluded.
Pakistan was not ready to give New Zealand even outside chance against them as they had just beaten Australia in the Test series, but completely forget that Black Caps were completely different outfit altogether, complacency was the major reason behind green caps loss in the One-Day International series.
Moin Khan was given free hand to destroy Pakistan cricket, there were always question marks on Moin’s role as chief selector, instead of removing a tainted person, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) gave him managers role as well, Moin rather than sitting with the team and help them best possible way, remained more busy with family and friends, who were coming thick and fast to watch Pakistan team in action. Moin remined busy in spending most of his time with them and the time spare from them with few certain journalists in the media center, enjoying, laughing and completely unfazed with the on ground situation.
Pakistan team selection in the entire ODI series remained surprising, Asad, Nasir, Wahab Riaz and Sarfraz Ahmed should not have been selected for the series at all, and should have been given rest, but Moin is well-known for showering countless blessings on his blue-eyed players, every other team rely heavily on all-rounders in 50-overs a-side match, but Pakistan team management thinks otherwise, Pakistan played entire 5-match series one bowler short, as Moin was not ready to drop his pupil Sarfraz Ahmed, who had scored runs in test series, but had costs Pakistan team dearly through his butter finger wicket keeping, had Moin used commonsense and think about in the best interest of the team and country, Sarfraz could have easily make way for 5th bowler, Umar Akmal could have kept behind wickets and done far better job than Sarfraz.
Pakistan only used regular spinner in the 5th match, Asad, Younis Khan, Misbah and even Hafeez bat in similar fashion, instead of sending defensive minded players one after another, aggressive minded batsmen should have been sent much earlier, who could have hit some lusty hits to release pressure, but no heed was paid, team was run like personal property, personal decisions were order of the day.
Why Yasir Shah was called in from Pakistan when he was never utilized, Pakistan team management didn’t apply rotation policy at all, it was a joke to witness such pathetic performance from the so-called players, who in Moin and some other individuals sense had great batting technique, which was never witnessed, Pakistani batsmen were clearly looking scared from New Zealand pace attack of Milne and Henry, who are by no means express quick and keeping in mind UAE conditions, if these master batsmen can’t cope these bowlers in these conditions, how would it be possible for them to play in fast and seaming Australian conditions.
It is the time Pakistan Cricket Board chairman must come out of shells and think in the best interest of the country, show the door to Moin and company and appoint people how know cricket and want to work for the betterment of the team, if Moin remains at the helm of affairs, the writing is very much on the wall, it would not be possible for men in green to think beyond quarterfinal stage in the coming world cup.
Lots of blunders were witnessed during the New Zealand series, Pakistan team can’t afford such blunders to repeat again and that too against tough opponents, drastic changes are order of the day to safe Pakistan cricket, Waqar never looked serious enough for the high-profile coaching job, Pakistan is blessed with having number of past greats who could help Pakistan team in best possible manner, time is ripe to hire such persons to put Pakistan team on right track as already too much time had been wasted, team can’t afford more loss of time, any further delays would all but end Pakistan hopes of doing well in the mega world cup.