SUKKUR:
There are some Pakistani players that are quite lucky to be playing from the national cricket team despite regularly underperforming. Then there are those who are picked out from the rubble and have a chance to prove themselves. Many players would never have been a part of the international squad after their frequent amateurish performance had they belonged to any other country.
In India, world-class players like Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma were removed from the team since they were not able to live up to certain expectations. In the past, players like Yousuf Pathan, Irfan Pathan and Gautam Gambhir have had to face a similar ordeal for the same reason. Ousted Indian players would be enviously thinking of how lucky it is to be a Pakistani cricket player. Once the tag of a match-winner is attached to players in Pakistan, they see it as their birthright to keep disappointing the nation with poor performances without any fear of expulsion.
There is a need to set some sort of criteria. Like elsewhere, even senior players have to regularly perform to stay included in the team. It is time for the PCB to do some serious introspection. The board must say goodbye to those players who have consistently been underperforming and showing no signs of improvement.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 15th, 2021.
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