Waqar’s and Shehzad’s one transgression too many

KARACHI: There is a new twist in the Ahmed Shehzad tale. The flashy opener from Lahore has paid the ultimate price for some supposed misdemeanours and a callous attitude during the World Cup by losing out on what otherwise would have been certain spots in Test and ODI squads for the clash against Bangladesh.  

The Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) new selection committee that was sworn in only a week ago implemented the recommendations made by Waqar Younis and, besides Shehzad, axed Umar Akmal from all three formats.

The new chief selector Haroon Rasheed didn’t single out either of the two yet gave a blanket statement in a bid to justify the stance. “We have sent a message that the cricketing discipline is important to us. Performance must be for the benefit of the team and not the individuals.”

Haroon and his team of selectors spent considerable time mulling on their course of action against the ‘undisciplined lot’ and after consultations with captains of the ODI and Test formats, Shehzad was asked to cool his heels in those.

The selectors remained wary of axing Shehzad from the T20 format since the 2016 edition of the world championship is a mere eight months away, the selectors feel a ‘mature’ Shehzad has an extremely important role to play in the tournament and resting him from all three formats could have caused a slump in his batting form.

The PCB insiders claim that Test captain Misbahul Haq was in favour of resting Shehzad from the longer format and while Shahid Afridi, the T20 captain, too remained evasive in his approach on Shehzad — contrary to popular belief.

Meanwhile, the major gripe that is hurting Shehzad’s camp is the PCB think tank’s debarring of the opener.

While Waqar’s report was given reverence akin to a higher command, Shehzad wasn’t contacted by any official or asked to explain the ‘recommendations’ against him.

The board censured Shehzad without hearing his side of the story, an official close to the matter told The Express Tribune that the decision on the opener was reached keeping in mind his ‘dubious’ record and the exasperation of the team management —captain, coach and manager alike — was reason enough.

On the other hand, Waqar has succeeded in identifying and nailing a couple of scapegoats for the World Cup debacle. The PCB has strengthened his control on the team by leaps and bounds with a verdict in his favour, giving him an iron grip on a squad filled with young talent.

Granted the room to flex his muscles, Waqar has the power to make or break the current team. His responsibilities have quadrupled and one hopes that he doesn’t trek on the track that forced his exit after the 2011 World Cup.

Shehzad might be seething under his breadth and the collective wisdom of the PCB must ensure that the abundance of talent in the opener isn’t lost to his own behaviour or the treatment meted out to him by the team management.

In Shehzad, Pakistan have a gem; a gem with some rough edges. Waqar and the PCB must smoothen out those edges rather than letting them crack open into an abyss.

 

 

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