Former greats divided over captaincy issue

Former Pakistan cricketers were divided on PCB’s indecision over the captaincy issue ahead of World Cup 2011.

Iqbal Qasim, the former Test spinner, flayed the move and said that the uncertainty could harm Pakistan’s World Cup hopes.

“By not naming the captain, the PCB has acted unwisely because all this uncertainty might not be good for our team,” said Qasim, a former chief selector.

But Qasim added that apart from the captaincy issue, things seem fine for Pakistan. “As far as the selection is concerned, I believe it’s a balanced team,” he said.

On Mohammad Yousuf exclusion, Qasim said that the aging batter didn’t deserve a place in the squad. “It’s hard to find a place for Yousuf because senior batsmen like Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan are performing really well at the moment.”

He also hailed the decision to select Sohail Tanvir ahead of paceman Tanvie Ahmed. “Sohail Tanvir has the sort of awkward action that can add variety to our bowling attack,” he said.

Abdul Qadir, another ex-Test spinner, also backed the move to overlook Yousuf. “It is a good decision because he wasn’t required after successful comebacks by Misbah and Younis,” said Qadir, also a former chief selector.

Qadir also supported PCB over its decision to delay naming Pakistan’s World Cup captain. “It’s a good tactic and will keep Shahid Afridi under pressure,” he said.

However, former Test fast bowler Sikander Bakht, believes it’s a ‘silly’ decision.

“It’s totally silly not to announce a captain and leaving uncertainty around the team,” he told ‘The News’. “Such foolish decisions cause divisions in the team. Our players would now be looking both at Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq and One-day skipper Shahid Afridi. This can harm Pakistan as loyalties would be divided.”

He said that Mohammad Yousuf has rightly been left out.

“For me personally, Yousuf should only concentrate on playing Tests just like Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman. He should have retired from one-day and Twenty20 cricket two years back.”

Shoaib Mohammad, the former Test opener, felt that Yousuf has been victimised by the board.

“Yousuf should have been in World Cup team as he is the only top-class player in our team but he has fallen prey to the dirty politics of the PCB,” he said.

Former Test pacer Jalaluddin, however, welcomed the decision to drop Yousuf. “The game today is very fast and Yousuf’s exclusion will not really affect the team.

“Though he has experience on his side but Yousuf is not fit to play in 50-over matches and is not in greatest of form either.

“So calling back him in such a big event could have backfired. We have some talented young batsmen who have shown the guts and we’ve done well by showing trust in them.”

Pakistan can't be written off in World Cup: Raja

Karachi: Cricketer-turned-commentator Rameez Raja on Thursday said Pakistan may not go into the World Cup as one of the favourites but the other teams cannot afford to write them off.

"Pakistan has a fairly settled and a very good one-day side. They know the art of playing one-day cricket. They have struggled in Test cricket because some of the players simply don't have the temperament to graft out long innings but the 50-overs cricket format suits them," he said.

"I don't think Pakistan can be ruled out of title contention. There will be less pressure on them and for our players 50-over cricket is a pretty natural format as they are natural hitters of the ball. And with the World Cup being played on sub-continental pitches I think the conditions will suit them," the former captain said.

Pakistan team united like the 1992 WC winning side: Intikhab

Pakistan's cricket officials believe that the match-fixing scandal in which some of their players were involved has brought the team together ahead of the World Cup in February.

Intikhab Alam, the Pakistan team manager, Thursday said the controversies and uncertainty have actually worked as a catalyst to bond the players of a team that is not really known for its unity.

"All our players are really fired up," Alam was quoted as saying in 'The News' after the tourists drew their second Test against New Zealand at Basin Reserve to win the series 1-0 Wednesday.

"There is a lot of bonding among the boys and they are really backing up each other."

PCB chief leaves for New Zealand to decide on WC captain

"There are no ego problems. Each and every player is trying his best to do his bit for the team," said the former Pakistan captain.

Intikhab was Pakistan's manager when they won their only World Cup victory in 1992 in Australia. He was the team's coach when the Pakistanis clinched the 2009 ICC World Twenty20 trophy in England.

Intikhab believes that the team is now showing the sort of spirit that helped Pakistan win the two world titles.

"Team spirit had a lot to do with our title wins in 1992 and 2009," he said. "On both those occasions, our boys were completely pumped up and there was a lot of unity. I must say that there is similar atmosphere in our dressing room right now and that's a very healthy sign."

Intikhab was also all praise for Misbah-ul-Haq, Pakistan's Test captain who was named the player-of-the-series for his prolific batting performances in the two Tests played in Hamilton and Wellington.

"The credit goes to Misbah because he has been leading the team from the front," he said. "The players have really responded well. Seniors like Younis Khan are doing a great job."

Intikhab is confident that his team is peaking at the right time.

"With the World Cup just a few weeks away, it is really good to see that our boys are peaking at the right time," he said. "They have just won a Test series which should give the team a tremendous boost."

Intikhab believes that another factor that has contributed to Pakistan's revival is fitness.

"The fitness of our players has been remarkable. They are showing a lot of intensity and the energy level is getting higher."

I'm out of cash: Zulqarnain Haider

Former Pakistani wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider, who fled the team hotel in Dubai hours before the final one-day international against South Africa last year, said on Thursday that he has run out of money.

Haider told the British media that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is withholding 15,000 pounds in wages from him.

The cricketer had fled from Dubai to the UK due to death threats he received while the Pakistan cricket team were playing a series against South Africa in November 2010.

Haider arrived in England and immediately claimed asylum in order to gain entry to the country.

“This country is very humane, very co-operative, and there are very nice people here and there are very good rules here for my safety. That’s why I came here,” he said.

Later in a press conference with the media, the ex wicketkeeperclaimed he was approached by a person who had asked throw the fourth and the fifth ODIs between the two playing countries.

He also insisted that he had no knowledge of any other players being involved in match fixing or if they had been approached like him. “I think the best way is to record all the players’ phones and all their activities,” he added.

He also expressed contentment that his wife Shazia and daughters, Zahra and Fizza, will be joining him soon.

The player is currently in process of a deal with the Kent-based Lashings World eleven and is  hopeful that it  will come through.

Zaheer suggests PCB to appoint captain on players’ performance

 Former skipper Zaheer Abbas has suggested to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to hand over the reigns of stewardship of national team for the World Cup to a player whose performance has remained consistent for quite some time. Pakistan’s coach Waqar Yunis and some other former cricketers including former fast bowling great Wasim Akram criticised PCB’s decision for delaying to announce the captain for the 2011 World Cup, starting from February, 19. 

The board on Tuesday announced 15-member squad for the mega event but held back the name of the captain, adding to speculations that test captain Misbah-ul-Haq might be picked to lead the side in place of ODI skipper Shahid Afridi.
Talking to APP on Thursday Zaheer said, he believed that captain should be “a performer and not an entertainer.” 
Asked who he felt was a better choice to lead Pakistan in the World Cup, Shahid Afridi or Misbah-ul-Haq, he said:” any body who performs well and lead from the front.”
He said although he also felt that the captain should have been announced along with the team but the board could have some certain reasons for delaying his name. 
“I don’t think it is a big issue. The board could not have any problems to name a captain. The only reason I see is that the selectors want to gauge the performance of players and if so, it is not a bad thing,” he said. 
Zaheer however, hailed Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq for leading the team to its first Test series win in four years in New Zealand.  “Most of the players in the team were young and Misbah as a captain did remarkable job. He deserved a lot of credit for the way he handled his team besides himself performing as a player,” he said.
He was of the view that after the Test series win, the forthcoming six-match one-day series against Kiwis would determine Pakistan’s tone for the World Cup. He said Pakistan outfit was talented enough and could finish at some respectable position provided they play as a unit.