Pakistan’s selectors will be in an unenviable position when they meet in Lahore on Monday to chalk out preliminary squads ahead of the ‘home’ series against South Africa getting underway in the UAE next month.
The selection committee meeting comes just two days after Pakistan suffered one of their worst Test defeats — in the second and final match against minnows Zimbabwe in Harare.
The shocking result has ignited scathing criticism with experts demanding sweeping action ahead of the series against Proteas which would be a very challenging assignment.
The selectors are themselves under fire for failing to select a squad that was good enough to beat Zimbabwe regarded as the weakest team in the Test-playing world.
In the absence of a chief selector, former Test pacer Saleem Jaffer will be at helm during the meeting in which the selectors will mull various combinations for Tests, One-day and Twenty20 Internationals.
They are likely to shortlist players in all three formats before the final squads are announced following consultations with coach Dav Whatmore, Test and ODI captain Misbah-ul-Haq and Mohammad Hafeez, Pakistan Twenty20 skipper.
Meanwhile, pressure is building on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to act after Pakistan’s humiliating defeat in Harare.
Former stalwarts, critics and fans want the Board to sack Misbah and coach Dav Whatmore.
Zimbabwe, who only started playing Tests in 2011 after a six-year exile due to lack of players and facilities, pulled off an upset 24-run win against number four ranked Pakistan in the second Test on Saturday, squaring the two-match series at 1-1.
The defeat left Pakistan cricket fraternity in a shock as former players urged cricket authorities to revamp the team.
Former captain Ramiz Raja said the Pakistan team needed a fresh captain to replace Misbah-ul Haq.
“Misbah contributed to a change of environment and gave stability to the team but he seems to have run out of ideas, so we need someone with fresh ideas,” Raja said.
Raja said every captain has a shelf life and 39-year-old Misbah has spent it.
“I think Misbah’s shelf life is over and with these ideas we will stand nowhere in front of South Africa,” said Raja, now a commentator.
The Pakistan team needed an aggressive strategy, he added.
“It seems excitement and aggression is at the lowest point in our cricket, we want to avoid defeat and these hot-and-cold, up-and-down performances must change,” said Raja.
Former Test pacer Shoaib Akhtar said Pakistan need a vibrant coach to replace Dav Whatmore, the former Australian batsman who took over last year.
“Pakistan must address its batting woes because batting is letting us down, it has gone down badly,” said Akhtar.
Akhtar blamed Pakistan Cricket Board directors for the slump in team’s performance.”Misbah is leading the worst-ever Pakistan team. We don’t have good bowlers, we don’t have good batsmen and if Misbah is prominent amongst the batsmen then it shows because, with due respect, Misbah is not world class,” said Akhtar, who retired in 2011.Pakistan legend Zaheer Abbas took a swipe at Pakistan’s poor showing stressing that a lowly-rated team like Zimbabwe almost outclassed them during the Test series.
Another former captain Aamir Sohail said Pakistan cricket needs revamp.
“We need to uplift our domestic cricket which is not producing top-level players and that’s why we are struggling at international level,” said Sohail.