Pakistan cricket team selection criteria (Cricket Board Chairman approval)
The third criterion requirement for Pakistan cricket team selection is clearance from the chairman of the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 Cricket Board (PCB) on disciplinary grounds. But it seems players have to feed the PCB Chairman’s ego in order to be cleared on disciplinary
grounds.
Younis Khan, former skipper and top batsman has been reported to have not been selected because of differences with PCB Chairman, Ijaz Butt. He is regarded by many as the best number 3 batsman to play for Pakistan, after http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zaheer-Abbas-c98435 left the scene. He is
one of four Pakistani batsmen to have an average of 50 in Test cricket.
However, he was banned for an indefinite period on the basis of spoiling team discipline on the Australian tour. No proof of his indiscipline was ever revealed, but he was charged by the disciplinary committee without being given a chance to plead his case.
His ban was revoked, and he was cleared to play. The selection committee neglected him for the Asia Cup, and he wasn’t even considered for the tour of England.
The reason behind Younis Khan’s exclusion from the team was that he hasn’t been cleared by the PCB Chairman and thus, Mr. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohsin-c77587 Khan’s selection team was justified in dropping Younis Khan. The big question is, has Younis Khan been continuously ignored by
selectors because the PCB Chairman does not want to compromise on his earlier decision and wants to keep Younis Khan out of the Pakistani team for petty personal issues?
In keeping, Younis out the PCB Chairman http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ijaz-Butt-c64128 is not only settling scores with Younis Khan, but more importantly he is damaging the future of the Pakistan cricket team.
Younis Khan was not the only one to be handed a ban by the PCB. Shoaib Malik, Rana Naved and Mohammad Yousuf were also banned.
After the Sydney Test failure, Kamran Akmal was dropped from the team for his particularly dismal performance behind the wickets and with the bat. Upon hearing this news Akmal said, “I will still play the third Test. I will see who can drop me, and who
can take my place as a keeper”. Akmal was dropped but soon afterwards Akmal was back in the team even after making such an arrogant statement.
Kamran Akmal’s younger brother and upcoming batsmen, Umar Akmal, protested and threatened not to play if his elder brother (Kamran) was not selected. He was fined and soon reinstated into the team. Where were Ijaz Butt’s unflinching discipline standards
then?
Moreover, senior members of the team cooked a conspiracy against Younis Khan and refused to play under his captaincy. They took an oath of unity against Younis and undermined his authority. These indisciplined conspirators continue to play for the Pakistan
cricket team with PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt’s approval.
Given such examples of gross misconduct on behalf of the players, one is justified to question the PCB Chairman’s disciplinary standards. Does the selection committee pick the final squad, or does the Chairman? Is the selection committee’s role merely ceremonial
and is the PCB Chairman ruling the roost with an iron fist?
Currently, on the England tour, Pakistani batsman struggled for consistency and lacked experience in the middle order. Bu the PCB ignored a fit and in-form Younis Khan, and sent in a, banned, unfit, and, retired Yousuf to solve the batting worries.
Previously, Abdul Qadir and Iqbal Qasim resigned from their chairman posts in the selection committee. The reason for their resignation from the job of selectors was interference from the higher authorities.
The selection committee needs to be the meritocratic institution in the PCB and should work independently. The Chairman should not interfere in selection panel’s job.
It has been observed that a player who is un-fit and out form, but has a clearance from Ijaz Butt can play in the team. While a player who is in-form and is fully fit, but has differences with Mr. Butt, will not be selected.
Such a scenario at the PCB sends a damaging message to future Pakistani cricketers, that they only have to appease cricket authorities and not concentrate on cricket if they want to play for Pakistan.
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