LAHORE,March21: Humiliated former Pakistan captain, Waqar Younis, blasted the selection committee for axing him from the Sharjah-bound squad.
Talking to Dawn, Waqar who led Pakistan in the disastrous World Cup-2003, agreed that he may have not led the side according to expectations, but as a player his performance was certainly better than most of the squad members.
“I am not responsible alone for the debacle, the other seniors are equally responsible but surprisingly they are ‘rested’ and I am dropped,” Waqar said.
The chief selector, Aamir Sohail, while announcing the team for Sharjah Cup categorically mentioned that Waqar wasdropped while Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Saqlain Mushtaq and Saeed Anwar were rested.
Aamir also indicated that the senior players could be considered in the near future and that too would depend on the performance of the young guns included in the 16-man squad.
Waqar said that the national selection committee had no need to wait for his retirement from cricket.
“I played cricket for 15 years without taking any advice fromany quarter and will decide on my own when to call it a day,” he said.
He demanded an explanation from the selectors for the discriminatory treatment meted out to him.
Axing of Waqar as a captain can be justified but booting him out just as a bowler beats the hell out of me. I don't think Wasim and Saeed are rested, maybe Inzi, Saqi, And Shoaib are because they still have couple years of cricket in them but Waqar, Wasim, And Saeed Anwar should gracefully call it quits or else we don't want the samething happen to them what happend to Miandad after 96 WC.
They all had great careers, they broke so many records and made so many milestones, its time now for others to have the piece of pie.
Razzak was probably the worst bowler- 1 wicket with an average of 119. But surprisingly, he has been selected ahead of the likes of Wasim, Saeed, or Waqar. The PCB is just being to harsh to these seniors. Over the years, they have contributed alot to Pakistani cricket and in the end they are recieving this treatment.
True, Wasim,Waqar and Saeed were in better form than Razaq and may have contributed alot more than Razzaq in this tourney but Razzaq is the future and other players mentioned above are the past. Razzaq is in off form currently, he is a very useful cricketer, and extra responsibility will make him a better cricketer.
Players like Wasim, Saeed, Inzi, Waqar, Saqlain are not seen very often. They are just going to through a bad patch but there's absolutely no reason to drop them.
[QUOTE] Originally posted by PakistaniAngel: *
**Form is temporary, class is permanent. *
Players like Wasim, Saeed, Inzi, Waqar, Saqlain are not seen very often. They are just going to through a bad patch but there's absolutely no reason to drop them.
[/QUOTE]
Yeah but even if they are to be brought back, how long do you think they will keep playing and then retire, both Wasim and Saeed were suppose to retire at the end of the WC but now they have changed their mind. Waqar is past his best, he is still good for international cricket but we have 10 times better bowlers in Sami, Umar Gul, Abdul Rauf, waiting on the sidelines. If we keep old players in the team for a long time just on their past reputation and waste away talents like above mentioned, then our team will go down the drain and it would take a very long time to come back on winnning ways.
Wasim just has about year left in him :(, Saeed, I'd say..not more than 1.5 years and same with Waqar. True we have to try out new cricketers but I guess it's hard for me to say good bye to stars I'm used to seeing for over 10 years.
I was just shocked at Shoaib's exlusion from the squad.
[QUOTE] Originally posted by PakistaniAngel: *
**Form is temporary, class is permanent. *
Players like Wasim, Saeed, Inzi, Waqar, Saqlain are not seen very often. They are just going to through a bad patch but there's absolutely no reason to drop them.
[/QUOTE]
Yeah but even if they are to be brought back, how long do you think they will keep playing and then retire, both Wasim and Saeed were suppose to retire at the end of the WC but now they have changed their mind. Waqar is past his best, he is still good for international cricket but we have 10 times better bowlers in Sami, Umar Gul, Abdul Rauf, waiting on the sidelines. If we keep old players in the team for a long time just on their past reputation and waste away talents like above mentioned, then our team will go down the drain and it would take a very long time to come back on winnning ways.
[/QUOTE]
abdul razzaq and saqi were the biggest flops of the current world cup but are they dropped ohhh no but they drop the player who did better than most of em'
ehsan bhai - I think he has been permanently droppped and that's what he is complaining about. If other seniors who performed worse than him are only rested why is he dropped for good ?
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by insolent mods': *
abdul razzaq and saqi were the biggest flops of the current world cup but are they dropped ohhh no but they drop the player who did better than most of em'
[/QUOTE]
Anwar n Akram should have been selected
about saqlains success in the world cup.....he only played against england.....bowling 10 overs for 44 runs n takin two wickets on a batting wicket....i dont think thats bad
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Spock: *
Sad... Waqar is still a strike bowler... He was one of the best bowlers the game has seen and I for one hate to see him go like this...
[/QUOTE]
I really feel for Waqar as a bowler. He deserves spot and after the burden of captaincy is off frmo his shoulders he will perform even better. I thin he can play atleast for an year more.
I think Waqar got dropped because if Wasim and Saeed come back, there are already too may ex captains in the team and I don't think they want any more. But if Waqar was really dropped on his performence, then I think thats a poor decision by Amir Sohail as selector as he performed much better than the other seniors, and also, picking Razzaq over Mahmood is another mistake.
I think this selection is totally crap. I mean you cant drop players who have been stars over the years like that. People of the calibre of Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Saqlain, Inzi, Saeed Anwar. These people have so much for Pakistan cricket I think they deserved a better then what Mr. Sohail has done. Wasim Akram was our best bowler in this world cup and he was also in reasonably good batting form. Dropping Inzi can be justified but Saeed Anwar... with a century against India in the pressure match and 40 odd not out in the last match how can you just ** * REST ** * him. Even if these players were to be dropped I think PCB should have approached these players and told them this is whats going to happen if any of you wanna retire go ahead and that will save you the embarrasement of getting dropped.