Misbah won’t mind changes in team for Caribbean tour

Published June 28, 2013
Shahid Afridi is expected to make a comeback for the series against the West Indies. -File photo
Shahid Afridi is expected to make a comeback for the series against the West Indies. -File photo

KARACHI, June 27: Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq is not averse to the idea of making some changes in the squad ahead of team’s tour to the West Indies as he dropped hints that axe may fall on non-performing players.

Pakistan suffered humiliation of losing all three Group matches in the Champions Trophy and Misbah said if the selectors feel that changes are required, they were right.

“Nothing wrong in this. No player should think his place in the national team is confirmed if he does not perform up to expectations,” said Misbah, who is yet to return to country.

“I will be coming home soon and will take part in the deliberations for the selection of the squad for the coming tours to West Indies and Zimbabwe,” he added.

Not only the players like Imran Farhat, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal and a few others but head coach Dav Whatmore is also in the firing line of the critics as the selectors get ready to name the squad for the West Indies tour.

Misbah said despite the debacle in England, the team had the potential to do well in future events. “We are lacking in consistency that is our main problem if we can overcome this problem we can beat any side in the world,” he said.

There is also news about the possible return of flamboyant all-rounder Shahid Afridi who along with several other players turned up for fitness tests at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore on Wednesday.

Following Pakistan’s terrible show in England, the players are yet to return from London, giving rise to speculations that it was done to avoid angry reaction of disappointed fans and supporters.

Misbah, vice-captain Mohammad Hafeez and some other players are among those who are still in London.

But Misbah said that players had taken prior permission from the cricket board to remain in London after the Champions Trophy. “Players had planned their vacations before the tournament and these speculations are baseless that due to fear of a backlash from fans we did not return home,” Misbah asserted.—Agencies

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