Experts blame lack of talent, infrastructure for Adelaide debacle

Players with meagre abilities are exposed in high pressure games: selector

KARACHI: Pakistani pundits expressed their disappointment on the meek surrender at the Adelaide Oval in the high voltage tie against India, while national selector Shoaib Muhammad claimed that the best possible team was sent to play the World Cup.

“The fact is that most of our players have limited talent, the batsmen especially do not have a strong base and are still not aware of the importance of converting their starts into big performances,” said  Shoaib.

The former Test player added that the difference between the two teams was the professional manner in which Indian batsmen approached the task and made the most of the batting-friendly conditions.



“The Indian top-order took total responsibility of building a big score and their approach helped their team immensely,” he added. “On the other hand, the Pakistan batsmen failed, and we need to identify the cause of the steep decline in quality of cricket at home.”

Shoaib also feels that the decision to send Younus Khan at the top of the innings in a crucial match wasn’t a wise move.

Younus must have opened with consent: Saqlain

Former Pakistan ace Saqlain Mushtaq feels that the decision to send Younus at the top of the order must have been made in consultation with the senior batsman.

“It wasn’t a bad move to send Younus at the top of the innings, there was no other possible role for the veteran and I am sure he was taken into confidence, he is a senior player and nothing can be forced on him,” said Saqlain.

Saqlain backed the team management’s decision of playing five bowlers in the crucial match and added that, for the balance of the team, Younus had to be slotted in as an opener.

Meanwhile former Test batsman, coach and chief selector Mohsin Khan expressed his anger at the defeat in no uncertain terms. Mohsin, who briefly coached Pakistan during a successful period in 2011-12, feels that certain officials in the Pakistan Cricket Board were harming the game with questionable policies. “The team management and the vested interest of some of the board officials are to be blamed for the state of affairs in Pakistan cricket, we have nosedived to an extremely low level due to shoddy and inept planning,” he said.

Appearing as an expert on a sports channel, the 48-Test veteran lambasted the cricket setup in the country for the repeated failures against India in world events.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 16^th,  2015.

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