Ali calls for PCB leadership changes

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Bangladesh resoundingly beat Pakistan.

    Towards the end of 2014, Pakistan were relishing their 2-0 whitewash of Australia on the placid pitches of the UAE and there were suggestion that the series win could be the launchpad Pakistani cricket needed to regain the glory days of the 1990s.

    It seems, however, that the team will continue to struggle in the ODI format and be a completely different force in Tests.

    If there were any doubts that Pakistan have fallen behind the pack in the ever-evolving ODI format, a true reflection of their struggles came before the World Cup when New Zealand, without star players Brendon McCullum, Trent Boult and Tim Southee, beat Pakistan 3-2 in a five-match ODI series in the emirates.

    The series highlighted the respective rise and demise of both sides with the Kiwis riding high on their way to a World Cup final and Pakistan wallowing.

    While their World Cup performances weren’t as woeful as England’s, without the heroics of Sarfaraz Ahmed and Wahab Riaz, Pakistan would have struggled to make the quarter-finals.

    Misbah-ul-Haq’s men managed to sneak through, however, and keep cricketing passion alive in the country.

    But no one knew that the lifeline received from the World Cup was to receive a grand jolt which could shake the sole and body of Pakistani cricket to its core.

    Former cricketer and coach Mohsin Hassan Khan has been eulogizing over Pakistan’s victories over Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and England 3-0 during his tenure but for the neutrals, Mohsin’s self congratulation was becoming a distraction.

    Suddenly Mohsin is under the greatest scrutiny he has faced during his time in charge after Bangladesh’s surprise ODI series win.

    Pakistan not only have lost their first ever series against Bangladesh, but to top that, the former East Pakistan has blown away their West counterparts with a 3-0 whitewash.

    Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) junior chief selector and former cricketer Basit Ali feels that Pakistan has gained nothing from the series despite fielding youngsters such as Mohammad Rizwan, Sami Aslam, Saad Nasim and new captain Azhar Ali, who performed consistently in the series.

    “There is not a single positive for me from the series to be honest despite the runs scored by Rizwan, Saad, Azhar and Sami,” Ali told Sport360.

    “There hasn’t been a single performance which has come out for Pakistan instead those innings have only favoured the individual. It’s a shame how low Pakistan cricket has gone that we’re being humbled by Bangladesh. It’s not the 16 players of Pakistan which have lost but the whole nation has become losers.”

    Basit also took a dig at head coach Waqar Younis, stating that he should resign his stellar playing career with the national side in order to refocus his team.

    “Waqar should throw the pride of being a top player of Pakistan because that is stopping his growth as a coach. Pakistan right now needs him as a good coach and not as a former great. There so many coaches involve with Pakistan team like Waqar, Grant Flowe, Mushtaq Ahmed but where is the performance,” said Ali.

    “PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan and Najam Sethi should step in to save Pakistan cricket because it’s a very alarming situation for us. Right changes need to be made to ensure that we regain the lost pride.”

    Asked whether a T20 and Test series win would make any amends for the ODI series defeat, Basit said nothing would make up for the whitewash as the damage has already been done.

    “No matter how well Pakistan play and win T20 and Test series but the damage has already been done and the wounds of a whitewash would take a long long time to heal. This is certainly a situation which makes me cry,” an emotional Ali added.

    Azhar Ali struggled to marshal his troops but blossomed as a batsman in his new captaincy role. Basit believes that the PCB should either reinstate Younis Khan as captain or tempt Shahid Afridi out of retirement.

    “We desperately need a senior player in the team to calm down things. The sudden departure of Misbahul Haq, Afridi and Younis has created a big void which needs to be filled. PCB should make Younis the captain or ask Afridi to come back and lead the side if they want stable progress of Pakistan,” said Ali.

    The Pakistan team also struggled with injuries as Mohammad Irfan, Sohaib Maqsood, Yasir Shah and Sohail Khan were all ruled out of the ODI series against Bangladesh while Ahmed Shahzad and Umar Akmal were not selected.

    Saeed Ajmal now looks a shadow of himself with the remodeled action which is a big worry for Pakistan, while Junaid Khan did not look the same force after coming back from injury.

    The new national selection committee, led by Haroon Rasheed, selected Saeed Ajmal without watching him perform in competitive cricket, highlighting Pakistan’s reliance on the spinner and their current woes.

    “There is a big question which needs to be answered as to how Ajmal was selected by selectors for tour of Bangladesh because he isn’t the same bowler now,” said former captain Rashid Latif.

    “Apart from Ajmal’s factor, there was a big difference in mindset of Pakistani team and the Bangladeshi players. Bangladesh have become mentally strong which has taken their cricket to a new level and there is a need to work on mental aspect of Pakistan team because they are not playing flair instead they are playing with fear.”

    Recommended