Sethi unsure of Hafeez's fate as captain
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KARACHI: Acting Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Najam Sethi, reiterated on Sunday that the fate of Mohammad Hafeez's captaincy for the ICC World Twenty20 was solely in the hands of the national selectors while adding that he was aware that "people" were not happy with the allrounder performances.
“I am not an expert on the cricketing matters and it up to the selectors to decide about his [Mohammad Hafeez] fate as captain,” Sethi told reporters in a news conference at a local hotel.
“People are not happy with Hafeez's captaincy. But I cannot make a change without the selector's advice. Pakistan needs to groom captains for a long-term basis by looking at players' leadership qualities,” Sethi added.
“What happens next I don't know.”
Former Pakistan captain and member Interim Management Committee (IMC) Zaheer Abbas and senior selector Salim Jaffer were also present at the news conference.
Hafeez role as captain has come under the scanner after a string of poor performances, highlighted by the allrounder own form with the bat.
Sethi said Misbah-ul-Haq's captaincy leadership had also come under threat but the 39-year-old had silence all his critics with first his bat and then by winning an ODI series in South Africa, making Pakistan the only Asian side to have done so.
“After good results against South Africa in South Africa, he (Misbah) restored confidence in him,” Sethi said.
The chairman all requested the media not make headlines out of his comments on Hafeez as no decision had been taken on the player's fate.
“No where in the world cricketing issues are decided by administrators.”
He also defended the selection of teenage left-arm paceman Usman Shinwari, a decision which was widely panned by experts and the media.
Shinwari, according to the chairman, was selected in the team on the recommendation of Pakistan Test and ODI captain Misbah who was impressed with the teenager's fiery spell of five wickets for nine runs in the final of the T20 Cup for Departments.
“Misbah found him unplayable and wanted him in the T20 squad,” he pointed out.
Selector Salim Jaffar also defended the selection while reminding reporter of Pakistan's tradition of blooding youngsters on the big stage.
He said Shinwari would be groomed by including him in the Pakistan “A” teams.
The issue of the selection of Abdul Razzaq and Shoaib Malik, despite the duo being unfit, was also raised a the press conference. Sethi responded by revealing that Dr Riaz, who was responsible for the fiasco according to the chairman, had been relieved of his duties.
Sethi said he was keen for cleansing in the board to make it viable.
In a veiled attack at former PCB chairmen, Sethi concluded the press conference by declaring he was going to cleanse the board of corruption.
“I think we can run the PCB with 60 people instead of 960 employees,” Sethi said.
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On DawnNews
Comments (51) Closed
Dec 16, 2013 12:16am
Both Hafeez and Misbah must be relieved of Captaincy. Afridi should be reinstated Captain of ODIs and T20 teams, whereas Younis Khan head Test squad.
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Dec 16, 2013 12:46am
Sethi Saab, If you are not an expert on the cricketing matters then why you say that you are unsure of Hafeez's fate.as captain.
Looks like you are standing for the critics.I think your position doesn't suit these kind of statements. This is harming Pakistan cricket.
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Dec 16, 2013 01:22am
Happy to hear that some changes or question are arising in Chairman mind, Firstly I want so say abt Misbah that one negative point only that his age, its true that he is doing well with the bat but bear in mind he won't b able to carry on his perfrmance till WC2015,Need some1 to groom like Haris sohail or Asad safiq,as there r no shortage of talent, they needs som time as well.don't frget as he won series in s.africa but lost as well in UAE.BUT it also true need some1 experience as well .I m talking abt for team WC2015.HAFEEZ he is ok but have play lower down.pak selectr r doing well but would be happy to see Haris sohail getting enough chance to prove his competency. Also Talha,Sadaf hussain should b included .....
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Dec 16, 2013 01:34am
Sethi and his Nawaz Sharif has decided to harm cricket so much that it never recovers. Nawaz sharif did exactly this to hockey during his first term and since then hockey has never recovered. May Allah's curse fall on Sethi, Nawaz and Iftikhar Chaudhry for ruining the country
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Dec 16, 2013 02:14am
It is first time that you hear sense from Najam Sethi. I am sure the board does not need 960 people. At least half of the staff should be sent home. No one should be payed 8-10 lakh per month for nothing to do. Hafeez has not done anything wrong as captain as he has played both the series as draws. Problem with Hafeez is not about captainacy but more about his performances with the bat. You can't expect him to win with Bhatties and Shinwaries as the main bowlers. Firstly he scores nothing but if he does then its too slow. I also do not like to see him coming at no.3. Why don't we ever try him down the order?
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Dec 16, 2013 03:06am
Afridi is the best choice at the moment for the T20. Younis khan should be brought back in the one day format as well. Hafeez, Umer Amin and that weird & awkward bowler tanvir should be sent home so that they can enjoy watching cricket on TV in their living room.
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Dec 16, 2013 04:28am
Hafeez body action in the field reminds me of a man who is nervous, jittery and not sure of himself. He is totally nervous to face fast bowlers specially Styn of SA.
Misbah may be old but has the grit and his performance with bat is excellent and he keeps his cool under difficult circumstances.
Pakistan has to replace Haffeez to improve its chances of winning the tournament in Bangladesh.
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Dec 16, 2013 05:09am
Sethi
If you are not expert then you should resign immediately. More over U are appointed person not elected as required by ICC.
Please do not spoil Pakistani institution just because you were rewarded by PML N as they won the election while U were acting CM of Punjab.
We do not want opportunist like you in Pakistan we need the people who occupied the position based on their merit.
Please take all of them who occupied the position based on SIFARISH not on merit.
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Dec 16, 2013 07:19am
@Rogers Evans: Agree 100%.
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Dec 16, 2013 07:24am
@kamran: I disagree with your comment. Sethi is just practicing good communication with public that's all. This will be the first time that PCB finally heed to the criticism of so obvious flaws and mistakes by Hafeez. He needs to improve his game and show some results in domestic level. If you expect everything to get fixed overnight then that is not possible. The current issue is Hafeez's consistent failure as a player and as a captain so let PCB fix that issue and later you can question on other subjects.
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Dec 16, 2013 09:04am
I think Hafeez is not a good captain for Pakistan and Sethi saab you are chairman of PCB so you have to think for Pakistan cricket if you cannot do any thing so you have to give resign plz because if chairman say that I cannot take any action so who will take take action.
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Dec 16, 2013 09:19am
Hafeez should be droped from odis . Sharjeel khan is a future of pakistan
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Dec 16, 2013 09:57am
Sethi Sahab, please help the country and fans of cricket. We need another captain for T20 than Hafeez. We need another ODI captain than Misbah and another Test captain than Misbah. Afridi for T20. Umar Akmal for ODIs and Younis Khan for test matches.
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Dec 16, 2013 10:48am
Get Rid of Hafeez,please. anyone,But Hafeez or Misbah or Sohail Tanveer or Umer Amin.
He cant Bat,He cant Bowl and his decisions as a Captain are less than desireable.
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Dec 16, 2013 11:09am
what a big mouth chairman! if he is unsure why not discuss with Hafeez, team and selector first before telling media. Now, selectors must change him under pressure because chairman doesn't have any confidence in him or if he goes forward, he will be a weak captain because team knows that he doesn't have chairman's backing. Well, anyone not expert in cricket should be chairm and creating holes in Pak team right before the T20WC.
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Dec 16, 2013 11:35am
I agree giving youngster chances but one game performance doesn't earn anyone selection in international cricket. If required he should have been given chance in ODI where he can show his talent but T20 is not a place for a chance as there is not much room for errors.
If Misbah can't play him then may be that's his age and reflections along with other used players who he got out.
To be honest we don't have a player in any of the three format who can lead the team. Misbah is good but not aggressive enough where Afridi, Younes doesn't have the temperament to lead the team. Hafez is OK but he needs to learn how to use his week bowlers better. Umer Amin was suppose to be an all rounder why he was not tried in T20? Umer Amin have the techniques to play but he need to be played one/2nd down position and needs to learn to pace himself as he throws his wicket out. May be he needs to place in Pakistan A for 6 months to learn and then come back with maturity.
Pakistan also needs to groom a young wicket keeper as Umer Akmal is not doing the job and it's also effecting his batting. Sarfaraz and most of the Akmal brothers have not shown the talent Pakistani team requires.
Junaid needs to be given more time in T20 as he is one of the better bowlers we have. Irfan is a good bowler but will continue to get hurt because of his height and Umar Gul is end of his career. Don't expect Amir to come back soon so continue search for new fast bowlers. Also we need a young leg spinner so stop using old players and groom a young bowler.
Aamir
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Dec 16, 2013 12:05pm
Sethi is doing a Suttee of Pakistan Cricket. Sethi is the problem, a character who wants to be the key character of every plot is the problem.
What is his true profession? Acting CM? a journalist? a character for hire?
He does not know an iota about cricket, and yet he is head of PCB.
Why Shariff brothers are promoting him? Politics has destroyed sports in Pakistan. Where have people like Nur Khan gone?
PCB ought to be managed by professions not by pretenders.
Hafeez and Misbah are spent fuel. They are too egoistic.Pakistan needs a captain who can think, and formulate a wining strategy and adopt tactics to achieve that. A combination of talent and brains leads to success in the field.
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Dec 16, 2013 12:32pm
The best thing for pakistan is to drop Hafeez because he has not been performing for ages now. Make Afridi captain for T20 till t20 world cup and then ask him to retire.
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Dec 16, 2013 12:40pm
Seth pls get expert advise, Hafiz have no place in team as player, how can u deputed him as captain both is wrong, Hafiz and Misbah have no place as captain for W/cup. Misbah should be kept under observation as player if played than fine otherwise drop him before world cup.
Find new and young captain and vice for both team.
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Dec 16, 2013 01:08pm
"I am not an expert and "what happens next I don't know", this is coming from the chairman of PCB. This actually defines the merit on which Sethi sb. was appointed.
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Dec 16, 2013 03:11pm
There was a time when Pakistan was famous for throwing up the young talent and it brought results and praise . Now most new players are in their 30s or at best nearing 30.The result is there to see. Why could not Irfan, Ajmal and Zulfiqar Babar be discovered earlier? This is because of faulty domestic cricket and corrupt officials.Cricket needs a major surgery. All cancerous growths should be removed starting from top. President should be the Chief Patron and post haste removal of Sethi.
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Dec 16, 2013 03:33pm
Hafeez should be shown the door forever not only as the captain but as a player as well. He is not more than a club-level cricketer. God knows wha pushed him to the top slot! His batting technique was severely criticized by a top (not Pakistani) when he was playing his debute match.
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Dec 16, 2013 04:20pm
Some good news for Pakistan cricket
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Dec 16, 2013 05:19pm
If he is not an expert on cricketing matters, what is he doing as Chairman of the PCB?
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Dec 16, 2013 06:23pm
@Googlie:
They are paying him back for his loyalty.
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Dec 16, 2013 07:40pm
@Rogers Evans:
plz drop misba one day series against any series..what can pak do in this series
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Dec 16, 2013 07:48pm
Where I live, the top man for job is selected because of his sucess at city level first then state level next. In most places, qualified people gain experinece and show that they can perfrom. But if you can have a President running the country for 5 years who never held CM or Governer or Senetao position....why not PCB chairman? Hafeez or no Hafeez but my questions is how did he become PCB chairman?
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Dec 16, 2013 08:06pm
@Googlie:
I agree with you fully. Why is he commenting on Hafeez's captaincy, its not his domain. Why not let the selectors talk about it or is he trying to give an indirect dictation to the selectors. I think both Misbah & Hafeez ought to go because they are useless and their ego is hurting the team. Both of them have no clue of captaincy and that is why they depend more on playing dirty game of politics.
Coming on the selection of Shinwari, who is Misbah to recommend a guy for the T20 team, he is not the captain of our T20 outfit nor is he a member plus he is no Imran Khan or Mushtaq Mohammad. Shinwari may be good but I didn't notice any extra ordinary fire in him, the maximum speed he generated was 139 KPH (certainly not express), we have many bowlers who generate that kind of speed and have good inswingers as well (Tabish Khan has been doing that for more than two years) and Salim Jaffer should know it. I think Misbah over stepped his domain by recommending him for T20's plus I have also noticed Misbah giving un necessary statements regarding our T20 team, I fail to understand why he is allowed to speak about the T20 team or is because he has some signal from the big boss.
With Najam Sethi on top there I expect such things to happen, this guy loves controversies and has a history of playing foul just to please his masters. This time around Nawaz Sharif made him the acting chief of PCB as a reward for his role in classically engineering the last general elections in Punjab in Noora's favour and Sethi on his part is doing all possible to destroy PCB as MNS is doing to PAKISTAN.
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Dec 16, 2013 09:13pm
"People are not happy with Hafeez's captaincy. But I cannot make a change without the selector's advice."
People are not happy with Mr. Sethi either... he should ask the selectors about that as welll...
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Dec 16, 2013 09:31pm
@Najma:
Sathi Saab statements would be perfectly legit after resigning as PCB head. Any one stopping him to do that?
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Dec 16, 2013 10:08pm
PCB must do two things ASAP get rid off Sethi and Hafeez .
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Dec 16, 2013 11:10pm
It is very surprising for me the see that Najam Sethi the acting head of PCB getting involved on captaincy issue and shooting out a careless statement regarding our T20 teams captaincy and that too while the team is on a tour. Mr Sethi has got no business to discuss captaincy issue as this is the business of the selectors, he should be well advised to remain within his domain and refrain from poking his nose in such cricketing matters. Secondly, he should also know that such irresponsible statements may demoralize the team. Agreed that Hafeez's captaincy & his form is a big issue but this is for the selectors to see and take necessary actions, Mr Sethi does not have the right to interfere in this matter and also dosent possess the required qualifications/know how of cricket to speak on captaincy issues.
I am also baffled by the interest Misbah has been showing in our T20 team's performance, my question is that why is venturing into T20 affairs when he in not a part of our T20 team. I think both Misbah & Mr Sethi should try to discipline themselves and remain within their areas of responsibilities.
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Dec 16, 2013 11:28pm
Hafeez and Misbah must be shown the door immeditely as two big events (World T20 and World Cup) of cricket will take place in 2014 and 2015. Team must have new leaders who can be confidennt and prepare players for these events, otherwise team will be doing the same as in Champions Trophy. .
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Dec 16, 2013 11:31pm
@Abdul Malik:
Exactly!
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Dec 16, 2013 11:32pm
@Abdul Malik:
Forget about Hafeez, why are you selected as the PCB chief?
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Dec 17, 2013 03:03am
@fida sayani:
100% agreed
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Dec 17, 2013 09:27am
Cricket Fans should make Pakistan Cricket Fans Board just like PCB.
They should select 12 teams from the country after Quaid Trophy and then the Final team to play against PCB eleven. Then the players for Pakistan be selected from best performers. Is every cricket fan ready to make this PCFB fan cricket Board. Select their own selectors and their own teams.
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Dec 17, 2013 09:35am
@Googlie: and to add to your list one more thing a person who can keep sport as sport and not mix religion in it. The problem starts when you start every line when speak with a religious sayings. We have seen how wearing religion on one's sleeves have done to the image of Pakistan. People at PCB fail to see that this kind of behavior does not go well but the cricket academy has not done anything to educate the mostly poor educated (with few exceptions) cricketers from with Pakistan.
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Dec 17, 2013 09:37am
The main problem with Sethi is that he does not see that he is qualified for the position. If you give him the position to head for example PCSIR or Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission or head of PAF he would accept all those positions too. He is an opportunist.
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Dec 17, 2013 09:47am
Journalist and sport are two different things. Mr. Najam Sethi is a professional journalist and he has nothing to do with cricket. I think it is not good for him to hold this position, which is not consistent with his profession, rather this responsibility should be given to a cricketer of high repute.
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Dec 17, 2013 10:04am
Hafeez does not belong to any format of cricket. So is the awkward bowler Sohail Tanvir. Bring Misbah back as captain fot T20, Junaid Khan should play all 3 formats and give this new 19 yr old kid some chance to play and improve. I see a good potential in him.
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Dec 17, 2013 11:04am
It will be a herculian task of cleansing the board, wish you best of luck. But beware of the people behind the appointments plus you are the Acting Chairman and all efforts will be made to create hurdles not to cleanse the board. It all depends how the new Chairman of the Board pursue what Mr Sethi starts.
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Dec 17, 2013 02:03pm
Someone should also gauge performance of Chairman PCB, he is head of the board so it also makes him responsible for every wrong in the board, why is he giving lame explanations and blaming people under his own control. It means that he himself have failed. Moreover, what wonders he is doing as an administrator except for giving airing rights to GEO Super for Matches against Srilanka???? . He is a journalist and should concentrate on his job and let some professional person who knows about both administration and cricket to do the job. Dont be jack of all trades and master of none.
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Dec 17, 2013 05:18pm
@Abdul Malik:
He may not be an expert on cricket but he is a great chamcha of Nawaz Sharif and this by far is the greatest asset for any bloke in Pakistan. This Govt believes in having their pitthus sitting every where.
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Dec 17, 2013 10:03pm
@Apas ki Baat:
Absolutely correct, there should be an active General Body monitoring the PCB chief as well. Why at all is Sethi there, on what ground is he made the head of PCB when dosent know anything about Cricket. Only chamchagiri of Nawaz Sharif has helped him bag this lucrative position and the only noteworthy thing that he has done so far is award airing rights to Geo which is highly objectionable.
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Dec 17, 2013 11:06pm
2013 T20 Worldcup will take place in Bangladesh. On flat piches Hafeez style will be suited.
Sharjeel,Shahzad,Hafeez, Sohaib, Haris/?,Umar Akmal,Shahid Afridi, Sohail Tanveer, Ajmal, Junaid, Irfan
But major concern for us is to prepare for ODI world cup 2014 which will be played in Australia .We need 4 top class fast bowlers and 5 proper batsman to play on bouncy wickets. Hafeez style/technique will not work in Australia. If ODI world cup played today this what we have. Bowlers: 1.Junaid, 2.Irfan, 3.Right hand fast bowler(Ahmad Jamal), 4.? BATSMEN: 1.Sharjeel, 2. Shahzad, 3. Sohaib, 4. Misbah, 5. Yonius/?. Allrounder: Afridi, WKP: Umar Akmal: Spinner: Ajmal
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Dec 18, 2013 05:02am
What about Misbah he should have been shown the door long time ago, remember Pakistan lost T20 final in South Africa and World Cup semi-final because of his batting and also because he dropped a simple catch in the semi final. Lately he has scored some runs but that is too little too late, Pakistan cricket should be restored in right direction and he should be replaced, like India replaced Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid to appoint Dhooni as captain. He is not as worthy as those Indian players.
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Dec 18, 2013 08:56am
If Mr Sethi is not expert about cricket, why he has been appointed as PCB Chairman. Is it not hilarious?
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Dec 18, 2013 10:35am
Is Sethi sure of his own fate?
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Dec 18, 2013 11:40am
Does anyone think that PCB member read or capable of reading these comments. Probably if we write in Punjabi then they might be able to read it. Do you know if Punjabi is written is any differently than Urdu? Shame on PCB for not electing it's chairman as it is written in PCB constitution. Long live corruption and nepotism. When is the new CJ going to kick out the PCB acting chairman? Is there anybody listening?
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Dec 18, 2013 08:12pm
@dr vimal raina:
I think yes, he knows that Nawaz Sharif can only tolerate mediocre people, With Nawaz Sharif as the head of our Govt we will keep the likes of Sethi on positions of power in Pakistan.
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