PHOTO: AFP
Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzaq blasted former head coach Waqar Younis for ignoring senior players and causing irreversible damage to cricket in the country.
"It is no secret and I am witness to this that Waqar never wanted or respected senior players and was never able to treat all players equally and fairly which resulted in disharmony in the team," said Razzaq.
"He himself is responsible for causing insecurity among the players and not being able to give them enough confidence to perform well for the country.”
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The 36-year-old, who played 46 Tests, 265 ODIs and 32 T20Is before his last appearance for Pakistan in 2014, said Waqar's bias unsettled the team. He added that Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) decision to appoint Test veterans Misbahul Haq and Younus Khan as advisors was flawed.
"Tell me who is responsible if Pakistan is at the bottom in limited overs cricket today?” asked Razzaq. “Obviously, the people who have been playing for the last six-seven years; so, what advice will they give to the board?”
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Razzaq criticised players for lacking the urge to work at grassroots' level to produce quality cricketers.
"There are some players who are only interested in good jobs and positions,” he said, while questioning,“How many want to work at the grass root level and really do something productive for Pakistan cricket?"
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Meanwhile, Razzaq was optimistic that Inzamamul Haq’s appointment as a chief selector would bring some good news for Pakistan.
"I have played with him and under his captaincy and if he follows the same principles he followed as a captain than he will do something good for Pakistan cricket," said Razzaq. "Inzamam never played players on basis of their statistics, he always played those players who he believed could deliver for Pakistan and always fought for them," he added.
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The all-rounder blamed selectors and team management for their inability to identify suitable players for each format.
"We don't even know who is good for which format and we keep on tinkering with the teams all the time and we expected good results,” he said. “Look at our performances, our rankings have been going down since the last few years.”
He said that he will be returning to the Pakistan to participate in the upcoming domestic season in an attempt to please selectors.
Abdul Razzaq was quoted by Press Trust of India
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