Former players slam Pakistan’s woeful performance
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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s former captain and coach Javed Miandad said Saturday that the huge loss against the West Indies in Cricket World Cup was “shambolic”.
“Shambolic is a mild word ... It really hurts to see the planning of Pakistan’s think-tank,” Miandad wrote at the tournament’s website.
Fast bowler Jerome Taylor’s triple strike left Pakistan lurching at 1-4 in pursuit of 311-run target before the team was dismissed for 160 in 39 overs, failing to play out full quote of 50 overs for the second successive match.
“There were no king cobras on the pitch to scare the Pakistan batsmen. Jerome Taylor simply exploited the weakness of Pakistan batsmen by bowling in the right areas — just outside the off stump,” Miandad said.
“It was simply game, set and match at one for four after Pakistan’s top order was rolled over by Taylor.”
Pakistan lost their opening match to arch-rivals India last Sunday and will take on Zimbabwe, United Arab Emirates, South Africa and Ireland in the remaining group matches.
“The men in ‘shocking green’ look like a fractured outfit and the wounds are only getting deeper and deeper,” Miandad warned. “The scars of defeat against India were still fresh and West Indies have simply rubbed more salt onto it.”
Former paceman Shoaib Akhtar, meanwhile, labelled captain Misbah-ul-Haq “a coward” and “a selfish player”.
“I have not seen a more coward and selfish captain than Misbah,” the 39-year-old Shoaib told the Geo News TV channel from India where he is doing commentary on the World Cup. “He is not willing to bat up the order to protect the other players at a time when he needs to show inspiration.
“He is happy with his own runs and I don’t know what coach Waqar Younis wants. He has no game plan or direction for the team,” added the man known as the Rawalpindi Express.
Misbah, 40, has been a successful Test captain since taking charge in 2010 and has also led the one-day squad since 2011. He batted at number five against West Indies but made only seven.
Akhtar said Misbah should have promoted himself, like Imran Khan used to do during 1992 World Cup when Pakistan top order batsmen struggled.
Former Test captain Ramiz Raja described Pakistan’s fielding as “hilarious” after at least four catches went down against the West Indies with Shahid Afridi dropping two of them. “It was really hilarious to see such a fielding performance,” Ramiz said.
Ramiz also wanted Younis to sit out and try to regain his batting form ahead of quarter-finals — if Pakistan qualify. “He should go back to the nets and prepare for the quarter-finals and let someone else take his place in the remaining group matches,” he said.
Another former captain Mohammad Yousuf called for wholesale changes to be made after the World Cup. “The problems ailing our cricket will not go away unless we produce better batsmen and the management is reshuffled,” Yousuf said.
Former Test spinner Saqlain Mushtaq was also scathing in his criticism. “We went to pieces against a West Indies side hit by internal issues so what can we expect from this team in the remaining games?” said Saqlain.
There was distress amongst Pakistan’s cricket fans with a mock funeral held for the national team in Multan.
Residents of the city organised a symbolic funeral procession, replete with a coffin with several cricket bats placed over it, directing their anger at the team after a poor start to the tournament.
Fans elsewhere in the country, meanwhile, staged their own protests to show their frustration with the national side.
Published in Dawn February 22nd , 2015
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