Seniors are our main strength: selection committee

Youngsters not ready to replace seasoned cricketers, admits PCB selector.

KARACHI: With the tour of Zimbabwe nearing its end, the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) selection committee admitted that the team’s youngsters were not ready to replace the likes of Misbahul Haq or Younus Khan.

Many former cricketers called for extensive experiments in the team ahead of the series against Zimbabwe, advising to rest senior players to test new talent ahead of the tough series against South Africa.

However, the selection committee decided against making wholesale changes, terming it a ‘balanced squad’ with a blend of senior and junior players.

Few months before the tour, the calls were more intense after Pakistan lost all their matches in the Champions Trophy and former cricketers demanded drastic changes in the team by dropping seniors.

Despite the calls, the senior players remained the top choice for the selectors.

“It is because experienced cricketers are our main strength,” selector Salim Jaffar told The Express Tribune.

“Time and again, the seniors have proved that. They also showed their mettle in the current Zimbabwe tour. Younus performed in the first Test when we desperately needed someone to rescue us. Misbah has been consistent while [Mohammad] Hafeez excelled the most in the One-Day International series.

“In the bowling also, the experienced Saeed Ajmal and Abdul Rehman did the job for us.”

Transition will take time, says Jaffar

Jaffar, who is supervising the PCB’s selection panel in the absence of a chief selector, agreed the transition in the team was a must, but deemed it a lengthy process.

“We lack replacements as our youngsters are not completely ready,” said Jaffar. “We are especially short of quality fast-bowlers.

“We cannot afford an overnight overhaul, but the process of testing junior players will continue.”

Jaffar said he will not make the final assessment of players based on just one tour.

“For instance, I will not say anything about Khurram Manzoor, who could not score runs in the first Test on his return after three years. He deserves more opportunities.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 10^th, 2013.

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