February 14, 2007	Wednesday	Muharram 25, 1428

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LAHORE, Feb 13: Cricket legend Javed Miandad expressed his astonishment over the criteria the national selectors adopted in picking the World Cup squad on Tuesday.

Talking to Dawn, the former skipper and coach commented that with the exception of middle-order batsman Mohammad Yousuf, no other player deserved to get selected for the World Cup taking into account their recent performances.

"It seems the selectors have no clear vision as far as selection is concerned for such a major cricketing event," he remarked.

"I as a Pakistani can only pray for our victory but do not have much hopes from this under-performing team in the World Cup," he remarked.

Criticising the selectors’ judgement for choosing players, Miandad said they should have looked at some outstanding players in our domestic cricket rather than sending the off-form, injured ones to the West Indies.

"It is not necessary that you pick only big names and ignore the deserving ones who are not only performing well but also measure up to the fitness levels," he added. "It shows the selectors have failed to groom proper alternate players for the big names and they are compelled to go with the under-performing players.”

Miandad also expressed concern over the form of captain Inzamam-ul-Haq and added that as a frontline player he had failed to play a pivotal role and it was imperative he came out of the lean patch.

He pointed out that even unfit players like Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Asif and Umar Gul had been selected which was not a fair thing to do at this stage. "I ask the selectors, how can you can be assured of their fitness in near future and under what rule you have picked them?"

Lashing out at the PCB, he said: “Where is their (PCB’s) plan which they got approved from the President of Pakistan Gen. Pervez Musharraf about eight months ago regarding the World Cup preparations?”

Commenting on opener Imran Nazir's inclusion, he said it seemed there was no plan whatsoever for the World Cup in the minds of the selectors and the Pakistan team management.