Moin http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Khan-c71319 slams Pakistan coach Waqar Younis for questioning pace bowler Shoaib Akhtar’s fitness
Former Pakistan captain Moin Khan has slammed the head coach of Pakistan, Waqar Younis for questioning express pacer Shoaib Akhtar’s fitness publically, saying that the national coach is not supposed to give such irresponsible statements.
“I am surprised at Waqar's statement on Shoaib that he is still half-fit and working hard to gain match-fitness,” said the former wicketkeeper of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755. “What does he mean by that? Even if Shoaib is not fully fit the coach is not supposed
to say these things about a player at a media conference,” he added further.
39-year-old Moin was part of Pakistan's squad during the 2003 ICC World Cup, which was led by Waqar Younis. Moin blamed Waqar for creating cliques within the team during that mega tournament.
“…after he (Waqar Younis) became captain in 2002 there was a clear change in his attitude and this led to groupings within the team in the 2003 World Cup,” recalled Moin.
Shoaib Akhtar was also part of that unsuccessful 2003 World Cup squad and this adds to Moin’s concerns. He said that the memories of the unsuccessful 2003 World Cup would still be fresh in the minds of three Pakistan cricketers who are in
the current World Cup squad; they include team captain Shahid Khan Afridi and the former captain and veteran middle-order batsman Younis Khan.
Shoaib Akhtar’s fitness has been the topic of discussion since the team left for the World Cup. Earlier the team manager, Intikhab Alam and captain, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482 also rated the express pacer as half-fit and this irritates Moin.
“It would have been better if they had kept it away from the media and discussed it with Shoaib in private given he is not fully fit,” Moin asserts.
He also said that had there been any reservations over Shoaib’s fitness, the selectors should not have picked him for the high-profile event. Since he has been selected, Moin believes that the captain, coach and manager must support the
speedster in the media rather than criticising his fitness publically.
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