KARACHI, Oct 30: Former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad has slammed the national cricket selectors, saying they are trying out the same old players and not banking on new young talent.

“The selectors have repeatedly been trying the same players who have failed to fulfil the nation’s expectations,” Miandad told a private TV channel on Monday.

The selection committee – headed by Salahuddin Ahmed with Shafqat Rana and Salim Jaffer – were given a lot of credit for Pakistan finishing as runners-up in the Twenty20 World Championship but they should be held responsible for the Test and ODI series loss against South Africa, he added.

“Inconsistent selection policies led to Pakistan’s defeat against South Africa,” he observed. “The selectors’ poor selection is bringing cricket at par with hockey,” said Miandad while maintaining that Pakistan needed fresh blood bubbling with confidence.

Cricket followers were surprised at the exclusion of talented batsmen Khurram Manzoor, Khalid Latif for the South Africa series and now for the tour of India.

Miandad, one of the best batsmen in the game’s history, expressed his extreme disappointment over the performance of Pakistan batsmen who threw away their wickets in the series deciding One-day International at Lahore.

“It was one of the most pathetic (batting) displays I have ever seen as six wickets tumbled for just 20 runs. It was a golden opportunity for Pakistan to win the series but they ended as 2-3 losers,” he said.

“Imran Nazir, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, Misbah-ul-Haq all played poor strokes, sealing their fate. Pakistan could have easily won the game without any fireworks but they played indiscreet shots to turn their victory into defeat,” Miandad said. —APP