Ex-players dismayed by poor Pak show

Former Pakistan players have expressed their disappointment at the national team’s dismal performance against New Zealand in the opening game of the ICC Champions Trophy in Karachi on Tuesday.

Ex-skipper Wasim Akram, former batsman Basit Ali, ex-keeper-batsman Kamran Akmal, former fast bowler Sikander Bakht and a few others came out guns blazing against Pakistan’s poor and spineless show on Tuesday that has already jeopardised their chances of advancing in the mega event..

Ex-skipper Wasim Akram, while commenting on the match, said he was shocked at the complete lack of planning on the Pakistan team’s part in the match. “In my entire cricketing career and for the years I have been associated with the game, I have seldom seen any Pakistan team perform so poorly and so sketchily as they did against the Black Caps on Tuesday,” said Wasim.

“Ok yes, the injury to Fakhar was a setback for them, but the chaos and panic that followed was alarming and said a lot about the lack of any kind of rational or mature thinking in the team’s camp.

“From sending Saud Shakeel to open the innings to Babar Azam’s inexplicable defensive approach in batting to our wayward bowling and lack of winning intent were all reflective of the chaos that is currently prevalent in the Pakistan camp,” observed Wasim.

“Of course, we have all been pointing out the blunders made in the selection of the Champions Trophy squad, but what transpired on Tuesday was totally unexpected for all of us. It was as if a bunch of schoolboys were up against professionals and just did not know what to do to survive in the contest.”

Former player Basit Ali also lamented the way Pakistan caved in against New Zealand.

“I am sorry but I have lost all faith in Babar and Shaheen (Afridi) because it seems that they have forgotten how to bat and bowl under pressure,” said Basit while assessing the Tuesday defeat. “Instead of leading from the front with their solid performances, they proved to the worst of the lot and at no stage looked like the match-winners they used to be about a year and a half ago.

Sikander also expressed his disgust at the lack of any strategy from skipper Mohammad Rizwan and Company to restrict or counter New Zealand during their innings. “Haven’t they (Pakistan) learned a thing from the tri-nation losses to the Black Caps? Are they in some sort of trance that they have forgotten how to bat, bowl or field?” asked the former fast bowler while speaking in a Tv show.

“And I want to know just why did Rizwan not come out to open with Babar because he has the experience and has good understanding with Baber to provide a sensible start to the innings,” argued Sikander. “Sending Saud to open was a clear blunder, so was not utilizing all of Salman Agha’s overs when New Zealand batsmen Will Young and Tod Latham were on the charge. It seemed that the entire think tank in the dressing room was absolutely clueless about tackling the opposition onslaught.”

Kamran also minced no words as he launched a scathing attack on the selectors for selecting a misfit, unbalanced squad for the important mega event. “All the teams in the world have selected at least three spinners for the Champions Trophy but the hosts who have erred badly by selecting just one specialist spinner and one specialist opening batsman,” said Kamran.

“It has been a horribly wrong selection to say the least and Pakistan is paying the price for that already. Why was a prolific opener like Imam-ul -Haq, a gifted spinner like Sufyaan Muqeem and a brilliant fielder Irfan Niazi were ignored for such an important event that is taking place in Pakistan after 30 long years?” he questioned.

“As a result of our shoddy show against New Zealand on Tuesday, Pakistan is on the brink of ouster from the mega event. They must now win their next two games or it is curtains for them which will be an utterly shameful for all of us,” he concluded.