Asia Cup: PCB forms ‘special committee’ to investigate Pakistan’s disastrous run
Pakistan lost to India and hosts Bangladesh, and only managed to beat UAE in the ongoing Asia Cup. — AFP
Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-haq have been included in a ‘special committee’ to examine Pakistan’s disastrous Asia Cup Twenty20 campaign and the ‘confused’ selection process for the upcoming World Twenty20.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Shaharyar Khan slammed the team’s performance at the Asia Cup on Thursday but admitted it was too late to make sweeping changes ahead of the World T20 this month.
The 2009 World T20 champions lost to arch-rivals India and hosts Bangladesh, and only managed to beat United Arab Emirates, raising serious doubts about their potential to challenge for the title in the March 8-April 3 tournament.
Shaharyar said everyone from the coach to those involved in the selection process would be held accountable but added there would not be no knee-jerk reaction.
“It wasn’t just a matter of disappointment but it was a painful experience to watch Pakistan play like that,” Shaharyar told reporters in Lahore.
And in the first step of the ‘accountability’ process, a committee has been formed to investigate Pakistan’s shambolic Asia Cup campaign. The committee, which would also keep a close eye on the national side’s World T20 performance, will be ‘empowered’ to summon ‘any individual’ involved with the team.
The committee also includes Shakil Sheikh (Chairman Cricket Committee), Subhan Ahmad (Chief Operating Officer) and Iqbal Qasim (Member) besides Younis and Misbah.
“The TOR for the committee are being prepared and will include the selection criteria, the coaching preparation and the team performance. It will monitor team’s performance in the World T20 and make its recommendations thereafter,” the PCB said in a media release on Friday.
Fitness was also a major talking point in Pakistan’s losses in the Asia Cup and the PCB chairman on Thursday emphasised the importance of conditioning in the shortest format of the game.
He said at least three to four players in Shahid Afridi’s team appeared unfit.
While the pace attack was impressive in the tournament, Pakistan’s batting let them down. They were bundled out for 83 against India and managed 129-7 against Bangladesh which saw them miss out on a place in Sunday’s final.
“We will bring changes in selectorial process, coaching process and leadership process,” Shaharyar said.
Pakistan added fast bowler Mohammad Sami and batsman Sharjeel Khan to their original squad for the World T20 following injuries to Babar Azam and Rumman Raes but the PCB chairman did not rule out further changes.
Afridi has also come under intense scrutiny due to his failures with the bat but Shaharyar said the 36-year-old all-rounder would captain the side in India.
“I understand there is a lot of criticism but I am not going to change anything one week before the major tournament in India,” the PCB chairman said.
“Afridi will remain captain unless he himself pulls out of the job. He has been serving Pakistan from the last 15 years.
“Some changes you will see will be done before we play our first matches in World T20 and other important changes will be done after the tournament.”