'Self-centered' Sana Mir blamed for World Cup disaster

Skipper, her cronies and manager blasted by team coach

Pakistan's disastrous showing at the 2017 ICC Women's World Cup was largely due to captain Sana Mir, her cronies and the management, claimed a dossier drafted by team coach Sabih Azhar.

The Girls in Green had a torrid time in England and Wales last month, losing all seven of their matches, most of them lopsided defeats.

The 14-page report, which tries to make sense of that debacle and a copy of which was leaked by ESPNcricinfo, alleges that during the entire campaign youngster were left out in the cold as the team's 'negative approach' blatantly favoured its skipper and her close allies: Javeria Khan and Nain Abidi.

Mir is considered by many as a pioneer and trailblazer for women's cricket in Pakistan but Azhar, during his 10-week stint with the team, found her 'self-centred, egotistical and being wrapped up in oneself.'

"It became clear that the captain Sana Mir is self-centred or self-absorbed; typically she is the last to know it," he wrote in the report. "Her denial to accept self-centredness overshadows her good qualities of confidence and esteem."

The scathing dossier further reveals: "The captain was so much negative in her approach that she inculcated fear among other team members during team meetings on number of occasions. She used to praise opponent players a lot instead of backing her own players to do well. Eventually, the captain's negative approach did damage the confidence of our batters and bowlers and they couldn't play their natural game during matches."

A few choice remarks were reserved for team manager Ayesha Ashar as well, with the report saying: "The manager was inclined towards three players and sometimes her behaviour with junior players was very cold. No doubt, maintaining discipline is something which is the foremost job of the manager, but I felt most of the junior players were uncomfortable with the attitude of the manager, who is with the national team for the last nine years."

To make sure that a repeat of this kind never happens, Azhar also made a few suggestions. "My humble view is if the set of these four — three players and manager — continue with the national team, there's absolutely no chance of players' growth in the team," he said. "Juniors need confidence of the seniors, but if they are always criticised and face negative remarks, it would shake their confidence very badly and we should forget growth of women's cricket in Pakistan."