Pakistan Chief Selector Mohsin Khan has stressed that the selection committee is working without interference from any quarters and insisted that players have been overlooked for the national team over discipline or fitness issues. Former captains Mohammad Yousuf and Shoaib Malik along with wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal were not included for the New Zealand tour while leg-spinner Danish Kaneria was also overlooked.
“Things are being blown out of proportion as the selection committee is working independently and selection is being made based entirely on merit and according to our policy,” Mohsin toldThe Express Tribune. “I follow a simple three-point rule that a player should only be considered for selection if he’s cleared by the Pakistan Cricket Board in all aspects: discipline, fitness and performance.”
The chief selector added that while Yousuf was facing fitness issues, Kamran and Malik were dropped after they were not cleared by the PCB.
“I think the selections of Ahmed Shahzad and Khurram Manzoor are great examples. They were selected because they match the three-point criteria.
“Mohammad Yousuf has failed to prove his fitness while those players who are in the news for their omissions [Kamran, Malik] were dropped only because we didn’t get clearance from the PCB.”
Kamran, who was denied permission to play in a Bangladesh league, commented that he had no clue as to why he was being overlooked for the national squad after performing ably in the ongoing Quaid-i-Azam Trophy.
Selection committee keeping a close eye
Mohsin added that the committee is keeping a watchful eye and following the under-19 and Pakistan ‘A’ teams. The former Pakistan batsman explained that a 14-man initial squad was announced as the selection committee was following Manzoor’s performance in the Caribbean where Pakistan ‘A’ were playing against West Indies ‘A’.
Manzoor scored 289 runs in the unofficial Test series besides scoring 98 runs in the three one-dayers.
“Can you cite any unfair selection in the team? to the best of my knowledge these players are the best ones available for selection.”
World Cup squad
Mohsin deemed the New Zealand tour as an important assignment which would help gauge the players before the World Cup next year. “We have the One-Day Internationals (ODI) after the Twenty20s and Tests which is a great advantage so we have to be patient in announcing the squad.”
He added that the committee will meet on December 15 before they announce the ODI squad for the New Zealand tour and the World Cup.
“Selecting the team is the responsibility of the five members [in the selection committee] and we ask the coach and captain for their input.
“But the announcement is made after it gets approved by the PCB Chairman [Ijaz Butt],” added Mohsin.
