November 12, 2003	Wednesday	Ramazan 16, 1424

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LAHORE, Nov 11: Pakistan cricket captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has backed coach Javed Miandad over selection matters as their differences with chief selector Aamir Sohail have become an embarrassment for Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

Inzamam told newsmen at Gaddafi Stadium after attending national training camp on Tuesday that he was unhappy with the selection of 22 probables of which Pakistan team would be finalised for the five One-day International series against New Zealand starting from Nov 22.

“If I were consulted I would have suggested the selectors to include Younis Khan and Saqlain Mushtaq. The team needs the experience of Saqlain and Younis,” stressed Inzamam.

Inzamam said the selectors included wicket-keeper Moin Khan only after he made the request.

The former skipper recalled to the team, after more than two years in the wilderness, against South Africa but left out from the original list of 22 probables for reasons best known to the selectors.

He said he was in agreement with the PCB policy to appoint a captain on series basis.

“If I feel my performance as a captain is satisfactory I will be ready to accept to lead the team after the New Zealand’s tour,” he said.

Under Inzamam’s captaincy, Pakistan lost the five ODI  series against South Africa 3-2 but won the two-Test series 1-0. Yousuf Youhana as a stand-in for Inzamam led Pakistan in the Test which it won at Lahore.

Miandad unhappy over the naming of probables for the five ODIs series against New Zealand questioned the wisdom of changing the winning combination.

“A team which has won the Test series against South Africa and lost the ODIs by a narrow margin a fortnight ago should have been retained,” he said.

He said that inclusion of Salim Elahi would impose pressure on opener Imran Farhat as he could feel his place under threat and claimed that frequent changes by the selectors showed their inconsistency.

Miandad said separate selection committees should be formed for the seniors and juniors as the task was a difficult one.

He said no less than 14 youngters had become the victim of the wrong policies of the selection committee. It had also done injustice to Moin.

“An experienced player should be given proper chance before deciding about his future”.

It was the PCB policy that selection committee would run the affairs in  consultation with coach and captain but it was not being practised, he claimed.

When he was asked to name a particular player who was missing, Miandad said the matter was not of one player but of principle.

“If the selection committee is bound to listen to coach and captain, then why it was not followed,” he said.

He urged the PCB chairman to resolve this issue once and for all so that such incidents were not repeated in the future which was damaging the morale of the players as well as damaging image of Pakistan cricket.

Meanwhile, all the 23 probables have reported at the camp on Tuesday.

Later, Aamir called the attitude of Miandad over the selection of 22 probables as “childish”.

Aamir told reporters that Miandad unnecessarily issued a press statement over the list of probables, who were called for the home ODIs series against New Zealand.

A list of around 25 probables had been finalized in the presence of coach, captain and PCB chairman Lt-Gen Tauqir Zia with a consensus that they would be rotated, Aamir claimed.

“I am doing my job according to that decision,” Aamir claimed.

He said except Salim Yousaf, all the other selection committee members had been taken into confidence by him before finalizing a list of 22 probables.

Aamir emphasised that Miandad was a paid coach and he should stick to the task to train the cricketers and stressed that his (Aamir’s) was an honorary job and he was working for one goal — that is betterment of cricket.

Defending the policy of rotating probables, Aamir said that was adopted  to provide an opportunity to the  players to have practice with seniors.