PCB discuss possibility of separate Test, one-day squads
SHARJAH: The Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has held detailed discussions with the national selectors on the possibility of having separate Test and one-day squads with different captains starting from the twin tours of Zimbabwe and South Africa from November 1.
Lt Gen Tauqir Zia met with chief selector Wasim Bari and other selectors during a round of meetings in Lahore where he also met with senior players Wasim Akram, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Yousaf Youhana, Saeed Anwar and fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar to discuss their future.
Australia has been most successful at having separate squads with separate captains while other countries like India, New Zealand, England and South Africa have also followed suit.
Pybus is scheduled to go home to South Africa for a short break from around October 24 before joining the team in Zimbabwe, but the spokesman said now he would be asked to return to Lahore with the team on 24th and give his views in a meeting with the Chairman.
There are also chances that now instead of chief selector Wasim Bari and junior team coach Aaqib Javed coming to Sharjah on October 23 to meet with Pybus and captain Waqar Younis to discuss formation of team for the twin tours, they would remain in Lahore and meet the coach and captain there.
The spokesman also explained that Aaqib Javed, though he is not a national selector had been invited by Pybus for his views on some of the junior players as he is coach of the ‘A’ team which recently played against Sri Lanka at home.
He also confirmed that during the meeting with the senior players, Tauqir Zia had made it very clear to them that it was because of their attitude that the Pakistan team was facing problems at present.
The PCB has also decided that the four seniors will play in a one-day practice game of 50 overs each shortly to access their fitness and form after which the team (s) for the twin tours would be announced.