PERICLES, the prominent Greek statesman, once said, “Time is the wisest counsellor of all”. Very true, indeed. However, very few individuals take lessons from time, and no wonder few attain success and sustain it in this world of billions of human beings.
The Zaka Ashraf-led Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has embarked upon a new trial: separate squads for all three formats besides appointment of Mohammad Hafeez as the national Twenty20 captain.
Though considering the heaps of raw talent we boast amid rapidly changing demands of the sport this separate-squads strategy in the first place looks appealing, only time will tell whether or not it stays friction- and controversies-free; particularly when one glances at the problems-of-all-types laden cricket history Pakistan has had in recent years.
To start with, there may be several opinions on this new approach, but very few would argue that it finally as the immediate concern comes down to the root decision — the players’ selection — that irks cricket-aware fans.
The announcement of the squads for the forthcoming tour to Sri Lanka, with some age-old, tried-and-failed and undeserving players being picked, forces genuine followers of the game in Pakistan to ask the Iqbal Qasim-headed selection committee some practical questions.
Without doubting the cricketing credentials of Iqbal or his selection committee members in any way, some mind-boggling pickings naturally lead one to criticise and criticise immensely! Do players like Imran Farhat, Sohail Tanvir, Mohammad Sami, Faisal Iqbal, Yasir Arafat and Shoaib Malik deserve to be called back (for various formats)? On what basis have these players been “invited” back to national fold where merit, and only merit, must be the sole criteria? Is there any qualitative andquantitative analysis of players’ performance done before selection? If (at all) yes, then which is given preference while fielding teams at the international level?
To say the least, Imran’s pathetic stats (50 ODIs, batting average 31.10) would never allow any group of selectors on the surface of this earth to pick him, but to one’s utter bewilderment he is back again on the scene, and has continued to remain a choice since 2001 when he made his international debut! Left-arm paceman Sohail (named in Twenty20 squad) has not done anything significant of late which could make him re-enter the international arena (19 T20s, batting average 9.83, bowling average 35.76). Similarly, while Sami (named in all three squads) who has done well in domestic games in recent times, his Test bowling record over the years (35 Tests, 84 wickets, average 52.27) is more than enough to make him absolutely ineligible for the highest level. The 30-year-old Yasir’s on and off emergence in Pakistan cricket remains unique, and his out of the blue inclusion in Twenty20 squad explicitly indicates that the selection formula in Pakistan needs some fundamental, quick overhaul.
It seems that “profile”, and not performance, has become the benchmark for selection in Pakistan cricket because had it not been the case then Malik would not have been in the T20 squad. The once compact all-rounder’s below-mediocre show in recent outings at international level is more than enough to discard him from national duty. Malik’s stature as the leader of Sialkot Stallions, national T20 champions, has been pretty appreciable. Nevertheless international contests are a different ball game altogether and the way he has failed miserably even against Bangladesh in the series late last year, his case becomes very weak.
The 30-year-old Faisal (26 Tests, batting average 26.76) has to come out with something extraordinary for this maybe his last opportunity in international competition.
On the positive side, selection of dedicated and performing youngsters like Haris Sohail, Afaq Raheem, Ayub Dogar and Raza Hasan should be regarded as a right step by the selectors. Still, one feels left-arm spinner Raza’s inclusion in the T20 squad, in the presence of four experienced spinners (Saeed Ajmal, Shahid Afridi, Hafeez and Malik), did not make much sense, for just a couple of T20 games in Sri Lanka. And one hopes budding campaigners like Usman Salahuddin, Bilawal Bhatti and Mohammad Talha would also be examined by the selectors and Dav Whatmore for future assignments.
A word on Hafeez whose elevation has also been welcomed by former coach Waqar Younis. The “professor” has been given the T20 reins for the Sri Lanka games, though it would have been ideal had he been given the job until the World Tewnty20 scheduled for September-October.
The PCB, in another significant move, has also named Hafeez the vice-captain to Misbah for ODIs and Tests, signifying the “assistant professor” would be under the spotlight throughout the Sri Lanka series. Regardless of the results in Sri Lanka, if Hafeez instils life into the Pakistan brigade, he — at least among the current lot — remains a long-term choice as Pakistan captain for longer versions too.
If Pakistan fare well in Sri Lanka, it should not obscure the selection blunders. Short-term successes must not take primacy over long-term goals. If truth be told our cricket-operating machinery over the years, intentionally or unintentionally, has generally opted for the former. The ground results prove that. Hope we start regarding time as “the wisest counsellor of all”, practically, sooner than later.