LAHORE: Poor fielding, low fitness, inconsistent selection, lack of positive approach and dearth of strategic thinking led to Pakistan’s downfall at this year’s World Cup.

These are the findings of the PCB Review Committee which met on Friday. It comprised PCB chairman Shaharyar M. Khan, Najam Sethi, Subhan Ahmad, Wasim Bari and Iqbal Qasim.

Pakistan lost to Australia in the quarter-final at Adelaide.

The committee held players, coaches, selectors and those running affairs of the Board responsible for Pakistan’s poor performance.

The committee unanimously decided to expand the scope of their review beyond the World Cup to Pakistan’s dismal tour to Bangladesh.

Pakistan had lost all the one-day and T20 matches under Azhar Ali and Shahid Afridi respectively before Misbah-ul-Haq saved the blushes of the team by winning the Test series.

The PCB issued a press release, after the meeting, which says: “Some of the areas highlighted and agreed by the committee which require strengthening were: strategic thinking, fielding and fitness, pick and stick policy and positive team culture.

“It is necessary to review performance of players and support staff after every tour.

“Further meetings of the committee will be held in due course.”

Surprisingly, the review committee raised no concerns over the disappointing show by both batsmen and bowlers in the Bangladesh ODI and T20 series.

Published in Dawn, June 13th, 2015

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