KARACHI: Former Test opener Mohsin Khan on Wednesday said Pakistan had failed to achieve the all-important goal of raising a winning combination for the World Cup from back-to-back ODI series against Australia and New Zealand, adding uncertainty now prevailed in the ranks of Pakistan cricket with reference to the 2015 extravaganza.

Speaking to Dawn, Mohsin lamented that Pakistan lost both the ODI series in the UAE with not many positives coming out of those contests.

“What have we gained from these series, could anyone tell me please?” he asked in an angry tone. “Our opening pair is not settled, our middle-order is not settled, our bowling has struggled throughout and there are injuries galore in our ranks. Is this the way to groom and prepare for a huge tournament like the World Cup?” the former coach of national team asked.

“Not just myself but most critics and former players feel it is a hopeless scenario, though we still want to back Pakistan because we are patriotic people who want to see our team win all the time,” said Mohsin.

Blaming the selection committee and the team management for making a number of illogical and unwise decisions during this period, Mohsin said it did not make any sense to lose to Australia and New Zealand in the ‘home series’ that concluded this month.

“It was most disappointing to see us losing the ODIs in the UAE where we should have won, keeping in view the advantages and benefits that we had due to favourable playing conditions, pitches and the crowds.

“There was a total lack of strategy and gameplan in the ODIs for which I squarely blame the team management,” lamented Mohsin. “Whatever success we had was due to individual efforts from players like Sarfraz Ahmed, Younis Khan, Mohammad Irfan, Afridi and, of course Haris Sohail who showed a lot of determination and promise,” he added.

The Lord’s double centurion pointed out that regretfully, players like Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali and Umar Akmal and a few others still don’t know where they stand with the World Cup barely a month and a half away.

“Tell me, what was the logic behind the gruelling month-long camp prior to the UAE series,” he questioned. “It only resulted in injuries and more injuries to key players like Junaid Khan, Wahab Riaz, Umar Gul and others and was totally counter-productive.

“Everyone knows who is responsible for that and scores of such inept moves, but the person who appointed this selection committee and the incompetent ten-man team management is conveniently sitting in Dubai and the current PCB chief is facing the music which is sad really,” said Mohsin.

“I have utmost respect for Shaharyar Khan sahib who is a gentleman and is sincere to Pakistan cricket, but unfortunately he is compelled to carry the excess baggage left by his predecessor.”

Mohsin, himself a former chief selector and a very successful one, pointed out that while both Saeed Ajmal and Mohammad Hafeez are not allowed to bowl currently due to the ICC sanctions, the twin ODI series in the UAE was the ideal time to groom some spinners like Zulfiqar Babar and Yasir Shah as their replacements for the big event ahead.

“But quite surprisingly, the team management ignored the [Zulfiqar and Yasir] duo for the ODIs despite their tremendous success in the Tests. Also, Abdur Rehman, despite his fine ecord in international games, was not even considered which is amazing to say the least,” argued Mohsin.

“Our players are a good lot, but when the team management is more interested in conspiracies rather than guiding and grooming the players, how will the results come?”

Referring to the role and attitude of the national team coaches who travelled with the team, Mohsin said that they were nowhere to be seen when the squad returned from the UAE which spoke volumes about the lack of unity and camaraderie in the team.

The former opener also condemned Pakistan’s decision to play the fourth ODI against New Zealand despite the heart-rending Peshawar tragedy.

“I could not believe it, neither could the tens of millions of Pakistanis that we actually played a game of cricket despite that harrowing massacre of our children barely a day ago,” said Mohsin, his tone clearly overcome by emotions.

“Whose decision was it? No one knows. How could our team not show solidarity with those children and the entire nation, and why did the team management or the PCB not postpone that match? Had they done it, they would have been hailed by one and all, not maligned as they are today for their unacceptable act to play on.

“What is worse is that the whole blame was put on the broadcasters, and the New Zealand team, which was preposterous and was proved wrong when the Kiwi skipper stated in the award ceremony that they were shattered by the incident and offered to postpone the match,” reminded Mohsin.

Published in Dawn, December 25th, 2014

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