Control player power: Miandad

Javed Miandad said the authorities needed to change their attitude with players © AFP Enlarge

Javed Miandad believes the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) needs to change its attitude towards players if the national side is to get itself back on track after a tumultuous last few months. Miandad, who coached Pakistan on three different occasions, felt that players had too much power and took their places for granted.

"Unless steps are taken to curb player-power and they are given the message they don't have automatic places in the team, nothing will change," he told Reuters. "Pakistan cricket's biggest challenge is discouraging groupings and players should be allowed to play according to their performances."

Pakistan, hit by the loss of Mohammad Asif and Shoaib Akhtar, suffered their second consecutive World Cup first-round elimination and also had to cope with the death of coach Bob Woolmer. Inzamam-ul-Haq, after announcing his retirement from one-day cricket, has faced much criticism from the local media. Inzamam told a parliamentary committee the World Cup defeats were part of cricket and he was "hurt" by match-fixing allegations.

Miandad, who was replaced by Woolmer in 2004, said the selectors needed to be given more say in team selection. "There is nothing wrong if the board starts planning for the future. The next captain must be strong but not allowed to dictate to the selectors or board."

Last week the PCB suspended all central contracts and said it would appoint a new captain and coach before May 7. Saleem Altaf, the advisor to the board chairman on cricket affairs, said that players would now be given performance-related central contracts. "Contracts would revolve around performances and due rewards. There is also a proposal to scrap the categorisation in the contracts."