Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq is not averse to the idea of making some changes in the squad ahead of team’s tour to the West Indies as he dropped hints that axe may fall on non-performing players.
Pakistan suffered humiliation of losing all three group matches in the ICC Champions Trophy 2013 and Misbah said if the selectors feel that changes are required, they were right.
“Nothing wrong in this. No player should think his place in the national team is confirmed if he does not perform up to expectations,” Misbah, who is yet to return to country, said in an interview.
“I will be coming home soon and will take part in the deliberations for the selection of the squad for the coming tours to West Indies and Zimbabwe,” he added.
Not only the players, including Misbah, but head coach Dav Whatmore is also in the firing line of the critics but the board is expected to retain the same team management for the West Indies tour, where Pakistan will play five ODIs and two T20 matches.
Misbah said despite the debacle in England, the team had the potential to do well in future events.
“We are lacking in consistency that is our main problem. If we can overcome this problem, we can beat any side in the world,” he said.
As the selectors prepare to announce the final squad for the West Indies tour, flamboyant all-rounder Shahid Afridi, and other players turned up for fitness tests at the National Cricket Academy, in Lahore on Wednesday.
Following Pakistan’s terribly show in England, the players are yet to return from London, giving rise to speculations that it was done to avoid angry reaction of disappointed fans and supporters.
Misbah, vice-captain Mohammad Hafeez and some other players are among those who are still in London.
But Misbah said that players had taken prior permission from the cricket board to remain in London after the Champions Trophy.
“Players had planned their vacations before the tournament and these speculations are baseless that due to fear and scare we did not return home,” Misbah asserted.