Cricket Update: Pakistan Selection Committee faces Criticism, Younis excluded due to old grudges with PCB & Misbah disappointed
Selection committee of Pakistan came under heavy criticism for its selection process. Recent team selection of Pakistan for its tour against Australia caused dismay in the ranks of selection committee. Sources believe, Chief Selector http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohsin-c77587 Khan announced the team after consultation with Captain Shahid Afridi, Waqar Younis and team manager Yawar Saeed. No other member of the selection committee was consulted for this process.
Former players and committee members who were not involved in selection process blasted the selection process along with the selected team. The main reason for this back fire was former http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ijaz-Butt-c64128 said that Younis Khan requires clearance from the board, which is something that was not required in the case of Shoaib Malik, Akmal brothers and Shahid Afridi. Rumour has it that, the board will not allow Younis to make a comeback unless he apologizes to chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board.
Iqbal Qasim, former chief selector came out in support of Younis http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Khan-c71319, blaming the board for his exclusion from the squad, he said "I feel Younis has been victimized, He fought his case and was outspoken against the treatment and was dropped." Shahid Afridi gave a sensible and diplomatic statement by claiming that he wanted Younis in team. He said it was because of his discipline and recent form that caused his exclusion from the squad. When a private television asked question relating to Younis khan, Afridi said "I wanted Younis to be in the team but, besides the issue of his recent form, there was also a bit of a disciplinary issue with Younis, One must understand I don't pick the team alone. The input of the coach and selectors is also involved in this process."
Younis recently won his case against his indefinite ban. The ban was imposed by the inquiry committee formed after Pakistan’s winter tour of Australia. Younis was very critical about the ban imposed on him. He made his anger public by making strong opposing statements regarding his ban. Yasir Hamid was given a chance instead of Younis. Yasir http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Hamid-c61327 who gets yet another chance is desperate to perform at international level. Uncapped Azhar Ali and Tanvir Ahmed are also named for the current squad. Absence of Muhammad Yousaf and Younis Khan from the squad takes away the middle order experience from the team. Since October 2004, almost 30% of Pakistan’s test runs are scored by Younis and Yousaf. Younis has a test average of 50.09; a player of that calibre without doubt would have helped Pakistan’s batting line up.
Senate sports committee was quick to take notice of this issue regarding team selection, the head of senate sports committee has asked for explanation from Pakistan Cricket Board. Abdul Ghaffar Qureshi said "We have come to know that there are injustices in the team selection and to probe that we have summoned officials and selectors in a meeting in Islamabad on July 9,"
Some of the regular test cricketers that have been part of test for a long time were overlooked in favour of new faces. Misbah-ul-Haq, Faisal Iqbal and Mohammad Sami also failed to impress selectors and were not part of 17 member test squad. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Misbah-ul-Haq-c1972 showed his disappointment openly, the veteran batsman said "It is very disappointing. You find yourself in the eleven and suddenly you are not even in a preliminary squad of 35, it prompts you to burn all your cricket equipment in anger. My Test average is 33, one-day is 39 and Twenty20 is 36, and if you compare it with other players it is better than many, so it makes you think what's wrong with you."
Pakistan’s recent performance in test cricket has been disappointing. They received http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482 will be making a test comeback after a break of four years. Shahid Afridi along with other team mates will quickly have to work out on their weaknesses, if they want to stand a chance of winning the series. Pakistan home series may not be taking place in Pakistan but they will find support in England as well, not to forget the celebration England saw when Pakistan won the T20 World Cup.
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