Quick decisions from ICC needed to finalize Pakistan squad for 2011 Cricket World Cup, says Waqar Younis
Waqar Younis, former skipper and currently head coach of the Pakistan cricket team, has called upon the International Cricket Council (ICC) to expedite its decisions regarding the spot-fixing allegations that have been surrounding
some of Pakistan’s top cricketers.
Younis said that it was important for him to have a clear picture about the availability of players for the 2011 Cricket World Cup, so that he could focus on
“the job ahead”.
Younis lamented the way the spot-fixing case has been left to linger on, as it has proved a constant distraction in Pakistan’s preparations for the World Cup. Pakistani players Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Amir, Kamran
Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Danish-Kaneria-c1314 are all awaiting clearance from the ICC, as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is not currently in the position to consider them for selection in Pakistan’s World Cup squad.
However, Younis also expressed his disagreement with a recent statement by former Pakistan skipper Imran Khan to the effect that the inclusion of Amir and Asif was critical to the team’s success at the World Cup.
“I hope they are available but in cricket no one is irreplaceable. Players come and go and that is the way the sport goes on. We have a lot of talent in Pakistan cricket and even if these players are not available it will not affect
our World Cup preparations or campaign,” said the head coach.
Younis said that he had full confidence in the players currently at hand. He also disagreed with team skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482, who recently stated that Pakistan’s World Cup preparations were not on track.
“No, I think our preparations are going well and we should be well prepared for the mega event,” said Younis. “I think this tour to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 will be very important in our preparations for the World Cup as it will allow us to
settle on a combination for the mega tournament.”
Younis was also supportive of the PCB’s decision to bring in legendary batsman and former http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Javed-Miandad-c66580 as a batting consultant for the national team at the training camp currently underway in Lahore. Younis said
that Miandad’s greatness as a batsman was unquestionable, and his presence at the camp was definitely going to help the players immensely.
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