LAHORE: Pakistan chief selector Mohsin Khan said Monday that the selection committee was not under anybody’s influence and was working independently. He said that the player were selected on merit and those dropped had disciplinary or fitness issues.
Former captains Mohammad Yousuf and Shoaib Malik along with wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal and leg-spinner Danish Kaneria were not included for the New Zealand tour. “Things are being blown out of proportion as the selection committee is working independently and selection is being made entirely on merit and according to our policy,” a wire agency quoted Mohsin as saying. “I follow a simple three-point rule that a player should only be considered if he’s cleared by the Pakistan Cricket Board in all aspects: discipline, fitness and performance,” he said. The chief selector added that while Yousuf had fitness issues, Kamran and Malik were dropped after they were not cleared by the PCB.
“I think the selections of Ahmed Shahzad and Khurram Manzoor are great examples. They were selected because they meet the three-point criteria, he added. “Yousuf has failed to prove his fitness while those players who are in the news for their omissions [Kamran, Malik] were dropped only because we didn’t get clearance from the PCB,” he further said. Kamran, who was denied permission to play in a Bangladesh league, said he had no clue as to why he was being overlooked for the national squad after performing ably in the ongoing Quaid-i-Azam Trophy.
Mohsin added that the committee was keeping a watchful eye and following the performance of under-19 and Pakistan ‘A’ teams. The former Pakistan batsman explained that a 14-man initial squad was announced as the selection committee was following Manzoor’s performance in the Caribbean where Pakistan ‘A’ were playing against West Indies ‘A’. Manzoor scored 289 runs in the unofficial Test series besides scoring 98 runs in the three one-dayers.
“Can you cite any unfair selection in the team? To the best of my knowledge these players are the best ones available for selection,” Mohsin added. Mohsin said the New Zealand tour was an important assignment which would help gauge the players before the World Cup next year. “We have the One-Day Internationals (ODI) after the Twenty20s and Tests which is a great advantage so we have to be patient in announcing the squad,” he said. He added that the committee will meet on December 15 before they announce the ODI squad for the New Zealand tour and the World Cup.
Combinations will evolve, says Afridi: Pakistan’s one-day captain Shahid Afridi believes his team will transform itself into a winning combination by the time the 2011 World Cup rolls into action next year. “The World Cup is an all-important event for all of us, which is why we are taking all possible steps to put the team back on track,” said Afridi.
“The boys are working hard in the camp in Lahore and I’m sure they would be in a much better shape when we leave for New Zealand for a full series,” he added. Pakistan will leave for New Zealand on December 17 to play three Twenty20 internationals, two Tests and six ODIs. The tour will conclude just days before the start of the World Cup. Afridi is confident that Pakistan will conclude its World Cup preparations in New Zealand on a positive note.
“New Zealand will provide us with a great opportunity to get ready for the World Cup,” said Afridi. “We are more or less sure about our World Cup combinations and the one-day series in New Zealand will help us take a final decision on it,” he added.
