Pakistan coach Mohsin Khan appeared stumped Wednesday by his team’s lack of form in limited over matches after routing England 3-0 in Tests, saying he had “tried everything”. Pakistan whitewashed England in the three Tests but slumped to a 4-0 defeat in the one-day series and lost 2-1 in the Twenty20s. The 56-year-old Khan, who is likely to be replaced by former Australian batsman Dav Whatmore next month, said he did not understand what happened. “Pakistan team’s performance in the Tests was outstanding,” Khan told AFP. “But the team was disappointing in the limited overs series and I am at a loss to understand how a team playing high-level cricket went down like that.”
Khan refused to blame captain Misbah ul-Haq and also refused to comment when asked whether some players may have under performed to oust him as coach. “I am happy with my efforts and my tenure. The win against England was special,” said Khan, who played 48 Tests and 75 one-days as opener. “We did not bat well in one-days and I am disappointed that the team failed in limited overs but this is the same team that was being lauded only a few days back and now everyone is so critical.”
The coach said England deserved full credit for their comeback after being annihilated in the Tests. “The way they came back after a demoralising defeat as world number one team was exemplary, we tried everything but they were too good and deserve credit.”
Khan, who also guided Pakistan to wins over Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, was appointed interim coach after Waqar Younis quit last September. Khan said he is ready to serve Pakistan cricket in any capacity. “It’s up to the Pakistan Cricket Board to talk to me and I am ready to serve my country, but my top priority is that it should be in a respected manner and with dignity, without which I will not hold any post,” said Khan. Pakistan’s next assignment is the four-nation Asia Cup in Bangladesh from March 12-22. Whatmore, who coached Sri Lanka to a 1996 World Cup win, is expected in Pakistan later this week to sign a contract likely to start with the Asia Cup.
