ISLAMABAD: Head of Pakistan Cricket Board’s Cricket Committee Mohsin Khan on Friday said the national team was lacking specialised opening pair which the former Test opener termed would be a major drawback in the World Cup starting on May 30.

Talking to a private news channel, Mohsin reckoned the team’s middle-order batting could not be settled due to which only two players bear all the pressure.

“In a huge event like the World Cup, Pakistan need to have specialised and settled opening pair which can give the team solid start in big-pressure games; and here we are lacking,” Mohsin, who played 48 Tests for Pakistan from 1978 to 1986, said.

“Quality all-rounders are vital for any team to win matches. [Therefore] we need to further boost the performance of available all-rounders to win the mega event,” he added.

He termed mental fitness was more important than physical strength for the players to perform in the forthcoming World Cup being staged in England and Wales.

“During the recent ODI series against Australia [in the UAE], the Pakistan players could not produce good performance due to lacking in mental fitness. They must have been prepared mentally before playing against a tough opponent,” he insisted.

“A good player and team always perform under pressure,” the 64-year-old Mohsan said, adding that the present Pakistan team had the potential to do well.

“We have the option of six to seven fast bowlers for selection who can perform well in the World Cup,” Mohsin, who also played 75 ODIs, said and added that due to different weather conditions in England the selectors could also pick spinners.

Published in Dawn, April 6th, 2019