Waqar, Yawar join hands against seniors
KARACHI, 20 September — Not for the first time is a cat and mouse game being played in the Pakistan cricket corridors with this time captain Waqar Younis and manager Yawar Saeed joining hands in a bid to field a new-look Pakistan side in the Test series against Australia next month.
Details gathered from Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) sources confirm that Waqar and Yawar have joined hands to try to oust senior players Inzamam ul-Haq, Saeed Anwar, Wasim Akram and Rashid Latif from the team before the Test series.
"This has been conveyed to the Board Chairman Lt. General Tauqir Zia that Waqar and Yawar don’t want the four seniors in the side now as they hold them responsible for the sudden decline in form, said one well placed source.
"The interesting thing is that they have even gone against coach Mudassar Nazar who until recently was close to them and he is now being blamed for the team’s poor performances in recent times, the source confided.
What is clear is that when the PCB Chairman held an emergency meeting last Saturday in Rawalpindi with chief selector Wasim Bari, Director Chishty Mujahid and Cricket operations manager Zakir Khan, Mudassar was mainly held responsible for not doing his job as coach properly.
"The meeting felt that Mudassar had failed to rise above his close friendships with some players particularly Wasim Akram in ensuring that the players trained hard and collectively to come out of their poor form, the source said.
"It was also felt that Mudassar made no real effort to set things right in the team nor tried to exercise his authority particularly when Wasim was letting the team down in Nairobi with his spate of extras, the source disclosed.
The meeting believed that it was Mudassar’s job to get Wasim into the nets for long workouts to try to sort out his problem, which he didn’t do.
But if this was also not the job of the captain is another issue.
The intriguing part is that even in early August chief selector Wasim Bari after watching the Pakistan team train in Lahore under Mudassar’s supervision had told the Board that he did not believe the team would continue its good form from Australia.
"Bari told the Board officials that he was worried Mudassar was not training the players properly and collectively and was soft with some players and that they were not focused enough, the source said.
"Bari infact compared Mudassar’s training methods to that of South African coach Richard Pybus and that was when the move to bring back the foreign coach had started, the source added.
The source said at present the position was that Yawar had played his cards brilliantly and Waqar had decided to go with him after facing cooperation problems with some of the senior players particularly Wasim and Inzamam in Tangiers and Nairobi.
"Basically the message conveyed to the Board by Waqar and Yawar is that it is the emergence of players power and groups in the team which has led to the steep decline in form, the source said.
"But what they have not conveyed to the Board is that the differences have been over the way Waqar has ignored the advice of the seniors and his poor decisions on the field, the source noted.
"Yawar held a meeting with the players in Colombo on Sunday in which he and Waqar used pressurizing tactics against the senior players telling them the Board after its meeting didn’t want them in the team any longer.
According to the source, at one point some of the senior players were so agitated at being blamed for everything that they responded it would be better if they said good-bye to Test cricket and concentrated on one-day cricket.
"This very message was leaked out through Mudassar to the press and Yawar then informed the Board that Inzi, Wasim, Saeed and Rashid didn’t want to play the Test series, the source confided.
"The problem now is that Rashid and Saeed definitely want to play the Test series, but Waqar and Yawar have made up their mind to go into the Test series with a new look team with Richard Pybus as the coach.
"To help their case, Pybus has even told the Board he would like to work with Yawar as manager, the source added.
However in all this scenario, the sad part is that Waqar and Yawar who are as responsible for the team’s decline in form as Mudassar could get away with blue murder by putting the blame on the others.
"But the fact is that everyone is blame for the poor performances and Waqar in particular for his poor tactical decisions and failure to listen to the senior player’s advice and Yawar for interfering in cricket matters which are not his domain, the source said.
"The Board has to understand that basically this same combination of players helped Pakistan win matches since last year under Waqar’s captaincy. So what has happened in the team that there is talk off non-cooperation from the senior players, the source questioned.
The source said that some of the senior players were so fed up with the situation and being blamed for everything that they were really not interested in playing the Test series, but Rashid and Saeed didn’t want out as they believe they can contribute to the team.
As things stand, some of the senior players believe that even with a new coach and team, Pakistan is likely to face a hard time in the Tests against the inform Australians and they don’t want to be part of any more debacles given Waqar’s attitude.
"One can understand the frustration of the senior players because of the refusal of Waqar and Yawar to cooperate with them and take them into confidence. Saeed for instance is frustrated because he believes that they are not being fair to him.
"Saeed returned to the team after a complete six months break from cricket and has found it hard to adjust back to international cricket like any other player. But he believes he is finding his touch and match fitness and wants to play the Test series, which he is not being allowed to do. Ironically Saeed commands an excellent record in Tests against the Australians having scored three hundreds and a ninety in the last two series against them.
"Saeed has tried to convey to Waqar and Yawar that after having trained intensively with trainer Dennis Waight in Colombo for the last two weeks he is now feeling much fitter and better and can contribute a lot against the Australians, the source stated.
As it is cricket experts believe that against the terrifying and inform pace attack of the Australians, Saeed still remains the best bet to take them on with his experience and permanent class compared to the inexperience of other openers.
Rashid Latif available for Australia series
Pakistan wicketkeeper Rashid Latif informed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday that he was very much available for the Test series against Australia and had no intentions of taking a rest.
Rashid called up the PCB Director Chishty Mujahid to convey his availability after press reports said that he along with Wasim Akram, Inzamam ul-Haq and Saeed Anwar had opted out of the Test series.
"I have no intentions of taking any rest. I am very keen to play the Test series and I have no problems with my fitness or form, Rashid said from Colombo.
"I have lost three years of my prime cricket years so why should I opt for any rest now. I want to play maximum number of matches for Pakistan till I can, he confirmed.
However chief selector Wasim Bari said that the Board had officially conveyed to him that four senior players were not available for the Test series.
"I have not spoken to Rashid about his availability, but if the Board informs me he is available, he would be considered for selection. I don’t see any reason for ignoring him, Bari stated.
Rashid since his comeback to the Pakistan team last year in England has performed extraordinary well displaying great efficiency behind the stumps and has scored 503 runs in 11 innings at a healthy average of 45.7.
In One Day Internationals also he has scored 584 runs at 27.93 in his 38 matches since his comeback also taking 52 catches and stumpings.
Rashid is a widely respected figure in the Pakistan team and specially looked up by the youngsters thus the reports that he had decided to skip the series against Australia came as a big surprise in the cricket circles.
It is learnt that opener Saeed Anwar is also keen to play the series and is still undecided on his future.
Bari laments problems faced by team
Chief selector Wasim Bari said on Monday that it was sad that a talented team like Pakistan was facing so many problems and was unable to come up to the expectations of the nation. "It is not a case of them losing six of their last 10 matches. What is sad is the way they have gone down without a fight.
"What is disappointing is that instead of working extra hard to maintain their form and standing after beating the Australians in Australia, we have gone downhill. Basic mistakes have been made on the field and in judgments, Bari lamented.
He was also not happy with the performance of coach Mudassar Nazar pointing out that when Wasim Akram was facing problems with wides and no-balls in Nairobi, it was the job of the coach to take him to the nets make him work harder to iron out his stepping problems.
"This was not done unfortunately. Infact at the Board meeting last Saturday the feeling was that Mudassar had failed to rise above his friendship with players and discharge his duties properly, said Bari. The chief selector said it was a shame that Pakistan team was facing so much uncertainty before an important Test series against Australia.
"Look at Australia they have comeback with a vengeance against us but we just didn’t work hard enough to maintain our form.