Bari refuses comments on sacking of senior players

Chairman Pakistan cricket selectors Wasim Bari Tuesday refused to comment on the decision not to include senior players, including Wasim Akram in the 27-probables named to attend the on-going training camp.

"I don't want any controversies at this stage," a befuddled Bari repeatedly said as the mediamen grilled the clueless former Test captain at the National Stadium. Bari had initially given contradictory explanations on the exclusion of Wasim Akram and Moin Khan. Firstly he said the two had been overlooked as the selectors wanted to rebuild the team. He later said the two needed to prove their fitness and form in domestic circuit to force their way back in the squad.

Probably Bari didn't come out with a third statement as he is awaiting policy statement on the issue and he tried his best to detract the newsmen with his irrelevant answers. Bari was also short of words when asked if his committee had been consulted on holding practice matches and if the camp rejectees would be considered for selection if they excelled in those games.

"All I can assure you that the best players would be selected for the coming Test matches," he said but clarified that that doesn't mean that Wasim was guaranteed a place in the squad for the Test against Bangladesh. Bari admitted that he headed three selection committees whose selected teams lost home series to Zimbabwe, Australia and England in the last two years. But at the same time he demanded the his committee had been denied of appreciation when his selected sides performed.

"In England, we selected the best available players and the performance was good. Can anyone point out if any deserving player was left out? As regards, the series loss to England in Pakistan, we dropped 16 catches and I think no team can win after failing to accept so many chance," he said without realizing that his committee had ignored Younis Khan and couple of other deserving candidates for the entire series.

"You are questioning on Wasim Akram. Didn't Wasim tour England?" he asked while refusing to throw light on the circumstances in which he was included. Wasim was included as 17th player for the England tour. When said no explanation means that the left-hander has been targetted, Bari denied. "No one has been targetted.

"The apprehensions that Aqib Javed (selector) will settle his scores with senior players are baseless. No one can go overboard and personalities were not discussed in selection committee meetings," he asserted.

Aqib accused Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Mushtaq Ahmad, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Saeed Anwar of being involved in betting and match-fixing when Justice Malik Mohammad Qayyum investigated the charges a few years ago. All the players were fined by the PCB on the recommendation of Justice Qayyum. Bari said mistakes had been made in the last two years but hoped to learn from them. He, as usual, justified selectors and claimed that here was inconsistency everywhere in the world.

"England was a better team than Pakistan a year ago but is now getting a bashing from Australia. Do you think there is consistency in selection in India, Sri Lanka and New Zealand?" He, nevertheless, stressed that the teams for the forthcoming Tests would be prepared in consultation with captain and coach because he believed in consensus.