Coach Moin Khan. PHOTO: AFP
KARACHI: Moin Khan who coached Pakistan in the Asia Cup and the WorldTwenty20 in Bangladesh has roared back at the critics of the team. Speaking on a TV show Thursday night the former Test captain claimed that some former cricketers were not doing anything positive in promotion of the game in the country.
“Nationalism is missing among some of the former players, their criticism of the team was at times against the interest of the national team, media needs to be responsible and the players should give suggestions rather than settling scores” Moin stated.
The head coach whose contract ended after the WorldT20 added that he was only 50% satisfied with the performance in the world championship.
“As a coach I would say that the team’s performance was only 50%, we did well against Australia and the hosts but were totally off colour in the crucial match against the West Indies”.
Pakistan were knocked out in the Super10 round by a rampant West Indian team that sent the 2009 champions crashing to an ignominious 82 run defeat in Mirpur on April 1. Moin thinks that the last five overs of the West Indian innings set the men in green back.
“We crumbled in the last five overs [of the West Indian innings], we had our best death bowlers on but the West Indians batted brilliantly, we failed to recover after losing momentum”.
India has forged ahead of Pakistan
Meanwhile, Moin added that Pakistan cricket fans, cricketers and board need to understand that India is now the powerhouse of cricket, their meticulous planning and the mental strength of their players had taken them to a new level.
“The Indian players are groomed in the Indian Premier League (IPL) the competition is extremely tough there now, the players who get through this system and make it to the top are quality players and have the ability of sustaining pressure at the highest level”.
Moin hoped that the administrators would think on these lines and take requisite steps, “We need to understand and accept the facts, this is the first step in the right direction, if we are honest and work with the vision then only can we overcome India at the big stage [ICC world events]”.
Moin reiterated his desire to serve Pakistan cricket in the days ahead. “I have made myself available, I owe it to Pakistan cricket, whatever I have achieved in my life is due to the recognition I received in the country”.
COMMENTS (2)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
Please give him time to serve Pakistan cricket. Nothing is settled overnight. If settled, than only temporarily.
Agreed Mr. Moin! But then one who has the hold should also keep his personal dislikes away from the game when he plans to lead the team whether as a coach or anything else.
Yes India is indeed the power house but that PCB needs to get their act straight - for whatever is the situation the PCB management is the culprit here. You can blame the players as much as you want to but that doesn't change the fact. Pakistan Cricket has hit its extreme low now.
Ever wondered why we don't have people coming from educated households in the game - because they all understand how corrupted the system is and how personal gains matter to the cricket board - we all know this bit! If you are so keen in changing the system then PCB needs to start off with their own selves before anything else.
So much for the govt allotted chairman who wasn't there when he could have made a difference by making its place in the Big 3 - could have been big 4 only if the government had intervened and taken the other 3 in to confidence - but then .. guess we all know it.
In the end, all this frustration is because being a Pakistani and a fan of cricket - Its really hard to see your team in such a situation - its heart breaking.