The Incompetency Of The PCB

Another unwise decision by the PCB has caused a lot of fans to speak up. Although there are many mixed voices at there, one thing is certain, the PCB is at fault yet again.

Let’s start off with a look at the PCB selection committee. Moin Khan, the chief selector, a glorified wicket keeper, a pinch hitter if you may. In short, if it hits, it hits, if it does not, well back to the pavilion. Coached Lahore Badshahs to their tournament win in the ill-famed ICL.

Saleem Yousuf, another specialist wicket keeper. Who retired in 1990 with a test average 27 to his name.

Wajahatullah Wasti, the opener whose best moment in his career was when he played a few games in the famous 1999 World Cup.

Mohammad Akram, the head couch of NCA, has 9 tests to his name with 17 wickets.

Shoaib Mohammad, son of the celebrated Hanif Mohammad, a test double century to his name and one of the two competent members of this committee.

Ijaz Ahmed, the second competent member of the committee, who also has a test double century to his name.

Why Zulfiqar Baber and Abdur Rehman were overlooked for this ODI series is beyond me. With Saeed Ajmal out of the picture sadly, at least one of them should have gotten the chance. Going with only one specialist spinner, Raza Hasan (Inexperienced), on the pitches of UAE is a big risk. With Afridi out of form and Hafeez’s specialty being the ability to stop the runs flow rather than to take many wickets is more worrying.

Abdul Razzaq is still being sidelined after that one T20I vs. South Africa. Yes, he got out on a duck, doesn’t mean the PCB should ignore him for the rest of his career. Pakistan is in dire need of a specialist All-Rounder. We should not rely on Afridi all the time, and as we have heard so many times before, Lala is a bowler first. Also Abdul Razzaq in one of the few Pakistani cricketers who has experienced not only county cricket, but other different conditions, like in Australia and West Indies.

In place of Younis Khan, the selectors have chosen Asad Shafiq and the already tried Umar Amin. Asad Shafiq maintains an average of 26 in the last four years, primarily because of him being shifted up and down the batting order. Umar Amin has an even less average of 21 in the last four years with only one fifty that too against Zimbabwe. If Umar Amin merits another chance, so does Haris Sohail. His List A career speaks for itself, even though he hasn’t scored a century, his average of 35 and a strike rate of 86.7 is commendable. Umar Amin even with three centuries to his name, has an average of 31. Haris Sohail at least deserved a call up to the T20 squad.

Now let’s take a look at Younis Khans most important innings in ODI’s in the last four years.

He scored a 70* against Afghanistan in the chase of 196.

Against India he scored a quick fire 52 after Hafeez and Jamsheds double century stand and a 58 after being 2-21 while chasing 227.

In the 2010 series vs. South Africa in UAE Younis Khan had a well-constructed 73 against the South African bowling attack, for which he won the Man of the Match award. Also a 54 with a partnership of over 100 with Hafeez, the team collapsed after he got out.

In ODI against New Zealand Younis Khan managed a 42 with Misbah (93*) while chasing 262 where only Shehzad was the third batsman with 35+ score.

In the last series vs. Zimbabwe, Younis scored 78 runs in the 1^st ODI and 81 runs in 3^rd ODI, top scorer in both matches.

Against Sri Lanka – Yes, the 2012 series was a disaster for Younis, but never has one series determined a player’s career. In the 2011 series, he scored a 56* to take the team home in the chase of 132. In an another ODI after a 150 runs stand between the openers, the team started to collapse yet again, but Younis stood high and scored a 42 to take the team to a decent total of 257.

Finally we must take a look at the series against South Africa in 2013.

• -          30 in the match where Pakistan crumbled to 190 in the chase of 316.
• -          32 in a low scoring win (target 192).
• -          A 19 in the chase of 344, Pakistan managed 309 from the late burst of Afridi and Wahab.
• -          A measly 6 in the chase of 236
• -          Lastly a 29, the second highest run scorer after Kamran’s 48 where Pakistan managed only 205.

All while playing at the No. 4 position in the batting line up, not at his signature one down place, which was occupied by the infamous Kamran Akmal. No he didn’t score a fifty, but guess what; this was the series where Misbah managed only 2 fifties while Afridi, Hafeez and Farhat managed one, that too in different matches.

We must also see how Younis fared in the last world cup

• -          A fifty against Kenya in a winning match.
• -          A 72 vs. Sri Lanka with a partnership 108 again in a winning effort.
• -          A poor six against Canada where Pakistan finished with only 184.
• -          A duck vs. New Zealand where the whole top order failed to at least try to chase the 302.
• -          A 13* against Zimbabwe while chasing 162.
• -          31 against Australia in a low scoring match which Pakistan won.
• -          The quarter final in which Younis did not need to bat.
• -          And a 13 against India in the all-important semifinal, in which, sorry to say, the whole batting line up failed.

If the basis of not selecting him is that he failed to score a century in the last 4 years, than why is Misbah the captain? Misbah even though hasn’t been able to score a century ever, is arguably the best batsman in Pakistan presently. Centuries and Fifties do not matter if your runs are enough to take the team over the winning line. The last 2 years Younis had being given the chance to only play 9 matches, in my opinion which is not enough to actually merit a player.

After watching today’s press conference the only complain Younis Khan had was that PCB has never treated its senior players with the respect they deserve. He is unquestionably right about that. Did PCB ever give a fair farewell to Shoaib Akhtar? Wasim Akram? Waqar Younis? Saqlain Mushtaq? And so many others. If countries like Sri Lanka, England, India, Australia and South Africa can give an extended run to their out of form senior players why can’t we? Most recent examples include Mahela Jayawardene and Alastair Cook. If Pakistan crash and burns in this series it wouldn’t be a surprise at all, with such a lazy and inept effort to select a team, this should be expected.

I hope the smiling assassin will rise once again to take back what is rightfully his.