ISLAMABAD - Sohail Tanveer expressed his utter disappointment over Pakistan team’s pathetic performance and exit from the Asia Cup and demanded operation clean-up.
Talking to The Nation, Tanveer said: “It is strange that how a team, which had countless world class performers and was capable of beating the best in the business, could flop badly in the event like Asia Cup. For me, the main reason is personal liking and disliking in the selection, which has not only destroyed the careers of many but also made the team third class, which was beaten by Bangladesh at a very crucial stage.”
He said that he is also a victim of such poor policies. “I have been playing all the world-class leagues, performing well with winning man-of-the-match awards and helping my franchises win titles, but as far as my place in the national team is concerned, the selectors, head coach and PCB have no answers in this regard.”
Tanveer also lamented that such pathetic performances of Pakistan team against minnows like Afghanistan and Bangladesh and consecutive defeats at the hands of arch-rivals have exposed the preparations of national team for the upcoming World Cup. “It was only Shoaib Malik, who rescued green caps against such minnows and even against India. Nobody can deny the importance of having senior players in the team, but Pakistani selectors have their own way of dealing with the things, which resulted in such lows.
“Only last year, Pakistan managed to win the Champions Trophy and the morale of the team was very high but in just one year time, Pakistan team is at rock bottom, just because of poor planning and highly controversial team selection, where the match-winning senior players like me were ignored,” he added.
He also questioned the exclusion of M Hafeez and Azhar Ali for the Asia Cup, where they needed the most and could help the team register crucial victories. Same was the case with Junaid Khan, who is a wicket-taking bowler and always provides crucial breakthroughs, but he was sitting on the bench.
About captain Sarfraz Ahmed, he said: “Sarfraz failed to utilise his options. If he was not satisfied with the team selection, he should have raised questions. But neither had he picked up the right combination, nor did he himself play any significant role to rescue the team. In fact, the entire planning of the team management and coach proved a failure.”
He said that M Aamir is nowhere close to what he was a few years back. There is too much pressure on him, which resulted in others also kept on struggling and it also badly affected Hassan Ali’s performance. “It seems there was no game plan at all. When India was without their skipper Virat Kohli, it means mighty Indian team is less than half to its normal strength and it was like cake walk for green caps, but they took too much pressure and lost both the matches against the arch-rivals.”
Tanveer said that World Cup is round the corner and every top cricket-playing nation has completed its home work and they are ready for the mega event but Pakistan is still experimenting. “The PCB must have to come up with clear plans. The team couldn’t afford more adventures and instead they should focus on improving. “I think PCB chairman Ehsan Mani should talk to captain and senior members. If there is some problem and miscommunication, the PCB chief should address the root cause.”
“As far as my fitness level is concerned, I am fully fit and hungry to take wickets, score runs and help Pakistan in the best possible manner. I have just returned after playing in Caribbean Super League and my records are good enough to prove my point. I am available for selection for all formats. I have proved my fitness in four-day, one-day and T20 match and performances are crystal clear to everyone. If given a call, I won’t let down team and the country,” Tanveer concluded.
