With the selection committees in place and only the appointment of coaches to consider, the PCB is busy selecting players for the World Cup’s preparatory summer camp in May. PHOTO: AFP
Moin, who is the national team’s manager as well, will head the meeting that includes Shoaib Mohammad, Saleem Yousuf, Wajahatullah Wasti, Ijaz Ahmed and Mohammad Akram.
This will be the first official meeting of the new selection committee, which was announced on April 24. The selectors are expected to name 30-35 players for the training camp that will be crucial for Pakistan ahead of the ODI World Cup scheduled to take place in Australia next year.
The probables will also remain in contention for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka, Australia and New Zealand. It has also been learnt that some of the discarded players – including fast-bowler Mohammad Sami, batsmen Yasir Hameed, Younus Khan and a few other senior players – are likely to get a call for the camp.
Meanwhile, Moin has stressed on the importance of fitness among the national players and feels that it remains the number one criteria for selection.
Speaking to media at the National Stadium Karachi, the former wicket-keeper cited the example of Test and ODI captain Misbahul Haq, declaring him the fittest player at the national level.
“For me, age is no barrier,” said Moin. “Misbah at 40 remains the fittest player in the team. We will keep fitness as the number one criteria for finalising the national squad.”
Basit vows to prefer merit
New junior chief selector Basit Ali has made it clear that merit will be the only criterion for selection under his tenure and average players, with the backing of influential people, will have no place in his plans.
Basit was appointed chief of the junior selection committee that will comprise former Test player Ali Naqvi – who had been closely working with KRL in the first-class cricket – Pakistan U19 manager and senior National Cricket Academy (NCA) official Liaquat Ali and Farrukh Zaman, who has been involved in both the junior and senior selection committees in the past.
“Merit will be the only criteria in the selection of junior teams and there will be no injustice with good players,” Basit told The Express Tribune.
“I’m thankful to PCB chairman Najam Sethi for trusting my abilities and I will try to fulfil my duty the best I can. We need to groom players who can become future stars of Pakistan; I have always relished the challenge of developing young players.”
Meanwhile, Sethi said that the board has selected well-versed individuals in both the selection committees and it will be up to them to make a difference in Pakistan cricket.
“The PCB has reposed confidence in the best and most merited cricket brains in the country in both selection committees,” said the PCB chairman. “Now it is up to them to deliver good results and elevate our cricket.”
Published in The Express Tribune, April 29th, 2014.
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