|
|
|
| April 15, 2002 | Monday | Safar 1, 1423 |
Bari surprised at changes in batting order
KARACHI, April 14: The chairman of Pakistan cricket selectors, Wasim Bari, was at a loss over the team management’s decision to make changes at the pivotal one-down position in the ongoing Sharjah Cup.
But the former Test captain insisted that he was far from the scene of action to make a comment.
“I am as surprised as most of the followers of the game are. Naturally I also have similar questions in my mind. But I am sure if the team management has made changes at one-down position, they must have a reason,” Bari said Sunday.
Pakistan sent in Younis Khan at one-down position in the opener against Sri Lanka and then tried Abdul Razzaq at that position despite the fact that 98 runs had been scored in the first 14 overs. In the third game, Yousuf Youhana was promoted while Razzaq was never sent out to bat as Pakistan lost by nine runs after they required 17 runs off 17 balls.
“I am disappointed with the way we lost against Sri Lanka because after reducing them to 41 for four, we should not have allowed them to reach 239. But even then we were in a chance until we made bad use of the final overs.
“But as regards the one-down position, I am surprised because in the last few months we have only experimented with the openers while rest of the batting order has not been altered,” he said.
Bari said when the team would return, he would talk to the team management and listen to their side of the story.
The chief selector said the team for the three-match one-day series against New Zealand would be named shortly. He said the selectors were in discussion stages and nothing had been finalized.
“I agree that presuming Pakistan reach the April 17 final, we have only four days before the first match against New Zealand. But I don’t think it is the right time to discuss the team with the team management as they have a job in hand and concentrating on it. Also, it would be unwise to name the squad when the team is playing in a tournament,” he said.
Bari disagreed with the suggestion to announce a pool of 20-25 players for the World Cup with the event still 10 months away.
“I mean alternates are available. If Rashid Latif is not there, Moin Khan is there. If any fast bowler is unfit, we have Mohammad Sami waiting and if Abdul Razzaq is not available, Azhar Mahmood is ready. Similarly, we have a few openers along with middle- order batsmen. I think 25 odd players are already earmarked.”
Bari said it was time the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) appointed a foreign qualified physical trainer. But he stressed that he was not making the call because he thought the players were not international standard fit.
“A qualified trainer increases the capability of a player. Our boys are talented and naturally gifted. But if a boy is 80 percent, the trainer increases that capability to say 85 to 90 percent. This may look minute but in pressure and big games, count a lot.”
He said he had discussed the idea with PCB chairman, Lt Gen Tauqir Zia, who was in favour of appointing a physio-cum-trainer.
|
|
|
|
