May 1, 2003	Thursday	Safar 28, 1424

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LAHORE, April 30: Chief selector Aamir Sohail on Wednesday defended the interference of PCB chairman Lt Gen Tauqir Zia into  the affairs of the national selection committee.

The selection committee was scheduled to announce the squad for the Sri Lankan tour on Wednesday at a press conference. But PCB chairman chose to make the announcement himself a day earlier in Rawalpindi.

“It is neither a big issue nor any controversy. PCB chairman is  the boss of Pakistan cricket and he can take any decision whenever he needed,” Aamir said.

Aamir, who looked somewhat dejected when he arrived for the briefing but later settled down, claimed that he had a free hand in the matters of selection.

Aamir said that it seemed the chairman announced the team on the request of reporters in Islamabad.

While replying to a question, Aamir disagreed with the questioner that PCB chairman had already interfered by omitting Inzamam-ul-Haq and Moin Khan from the list of made by the selectors as probables for the training camp.

“I considered Inzamam for the selection but deleted his name myself after having a talk with the player. Inzamam informed  me that he was not quite fit and fears the humidity condition in Sri Lanka  will  not suit him. As far as Moin is concern, he has no place as a batsman and was never considered among probables,”  Aamir claimed.

Replying to various questions regarding dropping four players — Naved Latif, Misbah-ul-Haq, Rana Naveed-ul-Hasan and Mohammad Zahid — from the Sharjah Cup-winning squad in one  stroke without giving  them proper chances, Aamir said: “They are not dropped.  They  will  remain  the part  of  pool of 35 players available for the selection in coming future. All players are being given chances according to their talent.

The flaws are being detected and a player will again get a chance once he get rid of flaws,” Aamir said.

The former Pakistan skipper admitted that Naved had some flaws and after attending the national academy he would be a more useful player.

About Misbah, Aamir noted that he was a better player but he was batting at No 5 where the more talented Younis Khan was available.

But when asked will Misbah not find a place in the presence of Younis,  Aamir replied: No. Every player would be given opportunities by trying him at different spot.

He said that Faisal Iqbal would bat at No 3. It is a crucial position where no batsman could perform outstandingly since Ijaz Ahmed.

When questioned about the inclusion of new faces, Faisal Athar and Yasir Hameed, despite having mediocre averages in the domestic tournaments,  Aamir asserted Faisal was a very good batsman and the entire committee showed its consent for him.

Regarding the inclusion of controversial pacer Shoaib Akhtar Aamir claimed that the bowler had impressed the selectors with his attitude and performance in the training camp.

He said that no indiscipline player would be tolerated and he would be booked on the return flight if

found in breaching the Code of Conduct.

Aamir also added that all-rounder Abdul Razzaq would not join the team in Sri Lanka direct from England where he is playing county cricket. “Razzaq will return home on Sunday to join the rest of the squad before departure for Sri Lanka.”

The 15-member squad leaves for Colombo late on Sunday night to participate in the May 10-23 three-nation tournament also involving New Zealand.

Regarding the forthcoming tournament, Aamir predicted New Zealand as tougher opponents for Pakistan than Sri Lanka.