Hafeez has set a good example by taking responsibility: Najam Sethi

Defending team's performance, Sethi says the team was still at 5th position.

LAHORE: Addressing a press conference Thursday evening, Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Najam Sethi said that by taking responsibility for the team’s shortcomings Mohammad Hafeez had set a good precedent, adding that Hafeez had shown courage.

He said that the reaction to the team’s performance in Pakistan was too strong, citing examples of how people in Australia and England reacted even though their teams had lost too. “We did not reach the semi-finals, but at least we are at the fifth position. Australia, England and New Zealand are behind us in terms of points,” he added.

He cited problems with the captaincy, the selection, and the coaching for the poor performance, adding that all these problems had become clear now. He also pointed out fitness and fielding as the major weak areas of the team.

However, defending the previous team selection, he said that at the time of selection, everyone including the coach and the management thought that it was a good selection.

Upon a question about groupings within the team, Sethi clarified that this was not true. He also informed that the previous selection committee will not extended and that a new committee will now be formed.

Talking about his role in the selection of the team, he informed that the chairman’s role is limited to appointing the chief selector and, along with the chief selector, forming the selection committee.

“Over the next four to five months some good decision will be made; we will have a new team, a new selection committee, and a new coach, and everything will be transparent,” he assured.