PCB chief disappointed with team's performance: Hasib slams manager, coach

The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Lt Gen Tauqir Ziawas disappointed with team's performance and said analysis needed to be done.

"The team management needs to put their heads together and decide where we went wrong," he said on the eve of his departure for Cape Town where the ICC executive council begins this week.

Pakistan were mauled by eight wickets in the Asian Test Championship final by Sri Lanka at Lahore. Pakistan had come into the game with six successive victory under their belt. "Even if we had won, I would have liked them to examine the performance. But I admit the performance has been poor and very disappointing," he said.

The General said his establishment can provide all possible assistance and facilities to the players. "But its upto the boys to make better utilization of them. The boys need to evaluate their performance and decide how to lift themselves."

There are serious reports of rift in the team with communication gaps clearly evident between the selectors, captain, coach and the vice-captain. "Investigation is a hard word since no crime has been committed. But yes, if things have to put in the right place, all issues need to be addressed," he said. The defeat was Pakistan's sixth in 14 Tests at home.

Pakistan are to appear in a tri-nation one-day tournament in Sharjah in April before taking on New Zealand in a two-Test and three-match one-day series between April 18 and May 12.

Meanwhile, former captain Intikhab Alam blasted the team's performance and said the management was bound to answer certain questions. "I think people need to know why Saqlain Mushtaq was not played, Wasim Akram not considered for selection and what was the logic of playing on a lively pitch after contesting previous four Tests on docile wickets.

"There looked clear lack of planning. Against one of the best sides like Sri Lanka, you can't win if you commit so many mistakes," he said.

He argued that if the team management thought Shoaib Malik and Shahid Afridi would deliver the goods with the leather, they were living in fools paradise. "They are batsmen-cum-bowlers. They are not in the same class of Saqlain Mushtaq who is a match winner."

Intikhab advised Wasim Akram not to be selective. "If he wants to be selective, then its better that he calls it a day. I think Wasim is the best bowler Pakistan has at the moment. I also feel that he fits into our World Cup squad.

"If that's true, then he needs to play in all the games. The selectors also need to give him the respect he deserves. I believe he has been roughly treated. No team in the world would have handled Wasim the way we have," he said.

Hasib Ahsan, former chairman of selectors, felt it was time that the team be allowed to stabilize. "We have had enough of experimentation. Chopping and changing has only brought established players under pressure and they are not performing, the way they are capable of. "It's time that the selectors pick 14 players and persist with them so that the team can be prepared for the World Cup," he said.

He felt that the basic mistake in the humiliating defeat was the dropping of Saqlain and Wasim, adding that the team management was nothing but spectators. "I don't know what influence the selectors have in picking the squad but to me, dropping Wasim and Saqlain makes no sense. As regards the manager and coach, they looked least interested in the performance of the team because there was no improvement in the players approach and commitment."

Hasib said Yawar Saeed and Mudassar Nazar were looking after their own interests and needed to be shown the door. "The team needs officials who can interact with players and know the youngsters playing in the domestic circuit. Yawar and Mudassar are not contributing to the cause of the team or the players as evident from the performance of the squad."

He added that the investment made by the PCB chairman would only be justified if the team produced results. "Unfortunately that has not been the case so far. We won against poor teams but against a team of our strength, we fared badly."

He called for the ICC to review the bowling action of Muttiah Muralitharan who once again bamboozled Pakistan with eight wickets in the match. "I am not saying he throws. But his arm definitely bends and that needs to be reviewed immediately."