ISLAMABAD -  Former Pakistan cricket team head coach Mohsin Hassan Khan has lambasted the team management and coach for entering the third ODI without any game plan and strategy.

Talking to The Nation, Mohsin, who was also PCB chief selector, said there was nothing special in the pitch nor Kiwi bowlers bowled exceptional deliveries but it was green caps’ highly pathetic batting and poor team selection, which gifted New Zealand victory in first three ODIs. “If they continue to enter the remaining two ODIs with same mentality and lack of planning, there is every possibility that Pakistan might suffer yet another whitewash at the hands of weak Kiwi side.”

The former coach said that gone were the days, when New Zealand used to enjoy luxury of stars as they used to have tremendous batsmen, super skipper and world class bowling attack, but now they only have one or two major players in their ranks. “The ball was not turning while there was also not an extra bounce in the pitch. It was just Pakistani batsmen’s fault, who simply gifted their wickets to New Zealand bowlers. It was very frustrating and irritating to watch Pakistani batsmen losing wickets so cheaply.”

Mohsin said he felt Inzamam had just one aim that is to ensure his nephew Imam-ul-Haq to be part of the playing XI. “I don’t know why he completely ignored in-form Ahmed Shahzad, who is a specialist opener and Pakistan team badly need a quality opener to ensure good start, but for that, team needs proper planning. I fail to understand what the team management was doing, where was the head coach. For the last several years, Grant Flower is with the team as a batting coach but he failed to improve batsmen’s technique. Instead of any improvement in their technique, I always see them committing same old childish mistakes. It seems there is no one, who may seek explanation form the team management and coach.

“I feel it is not Sarfraz Ahmed’s fault, who is trying to give his 100 percent, but others are simply not supporting him. If I were a coach of the team, I would have never even think about changing Azhar Ali’s batting order, who plays good at number 3 but just to accommodate others and make Azhar a scapegoat, he was forced to open the innings, which badly hampered his batting. Another major player Khurram Manzoor, who could have been more than handy in such conditions, had also been not considered since long,” he added.

The former coach said that he just wanted to know where is game plan? what is the purpose of hiring coaches on such hefty salaries, when they can’t improve the team’s performance? Pakistan team badly needs a full-time coach, not a part-timer like Mickey Arthur. “I can easily claim that had Pakistan team entered the matches with proper game plan and strategy, the results could have been far different. I can also claim that on papers, Pakistan team is strong and balanced one, but the selectors have completely overlooked a few bright stars, who would have been more than handy with the team.

“Junaid Khan was not utilised properly, as major players were allowed to play in international leagues, without knowing the simple fact that if they got injured, national team had to suffer badly. The PCB must open their eyes and instead of granting NOCs to key players, they must preserve their energies for the national cause. Same is the case with Immad Wasim, who is injured and his injury is costing Pakistan team badly, while seniors must also understand their role. After playing hundred of matches, they still failed to cope with Kiwi bowling, which is quite surprising,” he added.

“Pakistan team never looked mentally and physically prepared for the Kiwi tour. The management must ensure proper game plan and man-to-man strategy and enter the match with positive frame of mind as it is the only solution to Pakistan team’s woes,” Mohsin concluded.