Youngsters failed to follow game plan: Hanif

National team coach rues new recruits’ performance at Azlan Shah Cup.

KARACHI: Echoing chief coach Akhtar Rasool’s views on the performance of the young players in the Azlan Shah Cup this month, coach Hanif Khan also blamed the youngsters for the unsatisfactory results.

Pakistan finished bottom in the six-nation tournament with three losses, two draws and only one win to their name.

Hanif said that while he accepted the responsibility of the team’s failure, it was mainly the youngsters’ lack of experience that cost them dearly.

“The players introduced in the tournament were unimpressive,” Hanif told reporters. “They failed to play according to the game plan.

“I have been given the task for preparing a sound team for the World Cup for which experiments have to be made.”

Meanwhile, six players including captain Mohammad Imran stayed in Malaysia to feature in a league, while the remaining team members and coaches returned to Lahore.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 21^st, 2013.