ISLAMABAD - Former chief selector and head coach Mohsin Hassan Khan has said that Pakistan squads could have been stronger, had the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) not overused and mishandled M Irfan, Umar Gul and Juniad Khan.

Talking to The Nation, Mohsin alleged that it was all done just to accommodate one tainted bowler in the national team. “Even then I feel if green caps will enter the series with positive and winning frame of mind, they can easily produce good results.”

About Pakistan bowling attack, he said: “Pakistan pace attack is good and spinning department is also strong, with the availability of Yasir Shah, to whom I consider as one of the best leg spinners of modern day era. Yasir can play vital role, if he will be utilised properly by the team management and will be the main difference in the outcome of the series.”

“Zulfiqar Babar can also be an asset to the national team. If it is bright sunny English summer this season, our pacers in combination with spinners can play a winning role. We have highly competitive batting as well, but seniors like Younus Khan, Misbaul Haq and M Hafeez have to play a very responsible role. I have personally a lot of expectations from Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq, as they have showed class in the past and middle order will depend on them,” he added.

Showing his concern over opening department, he said: “The opening department is not as experienced as I would have thought and required. When one is playing against England at their home soil, one must pick up the best among the business against English team. I hope they will understand their responsibility and come up to the expectations.”

To a query regarding the strength of England team, Mohsin replied: “England is a good team, but not as good as it was 4 or 5 years back, which was fully dominating side. They were the ICC Test No 1 team when I took over the reins of national team coaching, but they are playing on home soil and conditions will also be in their favour, even then I believe they are very much beatable.”

When asked about if you were the coach what would have been your strategy and planning to deal with English threat, Mohsin replied: “Before going to England, I would have sit with the players and told them just throw away the word losing from their mind. We are going for winning, we will keep our 100 percent record intact and give more than 100 percent. We will enter the Tests, One-dayers and T20 internationals with self determination, motivation and with the purpose of just winning each and every thing that comes in our way. But that is past and now the players, who get selected to represent the country, must forget about past and focus on the task ahead. It is although a bit difficult, but all means highly possible to beat England and that too at their own courtyard.”

“My best wishes as a Pakistani was and are always with Pakistan team. I wish them best of luck for the upcoming series and I sincerely hope they will deliver wonders for the country and give Eid gift to entire Pakistani nation. I pray they will enter the matches with high heads, with aggressive approach and winning mentality, as it is the only key to success,” Mohsin concluded.