23 October 1998
Aamir Sohail to be retained as captain for Dhaka event
The Dawn
KARACHI, Oct 22:
Aamir Sohail will be retained as Pakistan captain
for the International Trophy starting at Dhaka from Saturday.
According to informed sources, the executive council, the higher tier
of the Pakistan cricket board, have decided to stick to Aamir Sohail
though the official announcement is expected to be made by Sunday.
The preliminary discussions have taken place and the council is
unanimous on Sohail.
Nusrat Azeem, the senior most PCB council member, said on Thursday he
did not see any reasons for the change "as the team is performing
well Sohail's captaincy.
"We have observed quite a noticeable change in the attitude of the
players. We feel that after a troubled last season, we have found the
right management," Azeem said.
Sohail was initially appointed captain until the executive council
didn't decide to review his performance for extension.
"He wasn't made captain for the Australian series. In fact, we had
decided to give him the charge and see how things go. So far, they
are quite encouraging as there is harmony in the team and the boys
look eager to perform well," Azeem added.
"If we have to groom a captain for next year's World Cup, we have to
give him confidence by allowing to have a run. His (Aamir Sohail's)
performance in the Sahara Cup as captain wasn't bad either," Azeem
said.
However, the president of the Karachi City Cricket Association (KCCA)
admitted that the approval for the 14-man team for the Dhaka
competition would be given on telephone.
"We can't hold a meeting now. Therefore, we will give approval on
telephone," he said.
According to sources in the cricket board, the selectors were asked
to submit the 14-man squad in the second week of October. But the
selectors argued that it would not be possible because they wanted to
look at the players in the three Tests.
Nevertheless, sources close to the selection committee said the team
has almost been finalized. "But a final discussion with Javed Miandad
and Aamir Sohail has to take place," sources said.
In the tentative squad, the selectors have not kept left-arm spinner
Shakeel Ahmad and paceman Shahid Nazir. Mushtaq Ahmad has already
expressed his inability for the tour because of knee injury.
The likely 14 are:
Aamir Sohail (captain), Saeed Anwar, Shahid Afridi, Ijaz Ahmad,
Inzamam-ul-Haq, Salim Malik, Yousuf Yohanna, Azhar Mahmood, Wasim
Akram, Moin Khan, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Akram, Saqlain Mushtaq,
Arshad Khan. Manager: Azhar Zaidi. Coach: Javed Miandad.
Source :: The Dawn (www.dawn.com)