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.
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.
