Pakistan: Selectors on trial for picking the best teams (10 Aug 1998)

10 August 1998

Selectors on trial for picking the best teams

By Sohail Kidwai

I have returned to the subject of cricket after a long time when the selection of two teams for twin challenging tours abroad is under active consideration. Pakistan is lucky that there is abundant and excellent talent available in the country. The committee entrusted with the task of picking the best possible squads for the Commonwealth event and Sahara Cup is, as such in an enviably comfortable position to do its job properly provided it intent is right.

On current reckoning most of the other countries with whom Pakistan will be in competition depend on two or three world class players. The West Indies outfit, once a conglomeration of giants like Sobers, Kanhai, Gordon Greenidge, Clive Lloyd and Vivian Richards, now revolves round Brian Lara, Carl Hooper and, to some extent, Chanderpaul. We don't see much depth in their batting nor has its bowling the old bite.

In India Azharuddin and Tendulkar lead an average pack. Sri Lanka similarly banks largely on stars like Jayasuria, De Silva and Ranatunga. But the islanders excel in the fielding department unlike others in the region. That is why their medium pacers can contain any side. This advantage serves them very well in one-day cricket, not so necessarily in Test matches.

The Pakistan Selection Committee is fortunate insofar as a galaxy of good players is vying for a place in the two teams concerned. But a couple of problems facing them must be sorted out. The availability of those at present pre-occupied with the counties is one, and the fitness factor is another.

One rather unfortunate snag impeding smooth process of selection is the attitude of the Board's Chief Executive. Gathering from Press reports he is not on very good terms with the present selection committee unlike the close relations he had with the previous one. Let me illustrate the absence of cooperation and coordination between the two wings.

The PCB did not make a formal request to PIA for the release of two selectors who belong to the Airline. This is a normal practice that was not followed. Apart from this procedural lapse, when the Selection Committee had unanimously chosen a team for the Commonwealth Games, the Chief Executive's insistence to discuss the matter with the Chief Selector seemed odd and ominous.

The SC is supposed to be an independent body and any interference in its work betrays lack of trust. I must say Wasim Bari passed the first test successfully by not yielding to pressure from above.

Now, about the Sahara team. Our openers Saeed Anwar and Aamir Sohail are automatic choices. In the middle order Inzamam-ul-Haq, Ajaz Ahmad, Saleem Malik and Shahid Afridi can easily walk in. If Rashid Lateef is made the captain evidently there is no place for a second wicketkeeper. But since Moin Khan's record in one-dayers is better than Lateef's he has a genuine claim. Playing two wicket keepers in the XI, a mistake that Saleem Altaf's selection committee committed should not be repeated.

As regards fast bowlers and spinners the two Ws (Wasim and Waqar) and the two Mushtaqs (Ahmed and Saqlain) naturally top the list. Mohammad Zahid, Aqib Javed and Fazle Akbar cannot be, however, overlooked. All-rounders Azhar Mahmood and Abdur Razzak, as two outstanding all-rounders deserve a place in the team. Saleem Malik can play the same role that Javed Miandad did in the World Cup.

An important, indeed vital, consideration in selections is the venue, the state of the wicket, the opposition in view and the environment, particularly the behaviour of the Natural Elements. The Toronto Club, where the Sahara Cup is due to be staged is a site about which the PCB authorities know next to nothing. The Selectors too have little idea about the conditions there. With this handicap they cannot do full justice in preferring one player over another.

During the first Sahara Cup the rains had made the unrolled strip a heaven for the spinners since the ball tended to play tricks on an underprepared wicket. Next year it favoured the seamers. How it will behave this year is anybody's guess.

If I may venture a suggestion the PCB should send the little Master Hanif Mohammad to Toronto because no one in the country can read the wicket as well as he can. There is still some time left for the final selection, a task that can be much better tackled with an expert advice in the prevailing conditions in hand.

It is presumed that the strength and weakness of the competitors is duly studied by the Selectors. Our encounters with India always assume extra significance in all fields. A high degree of involvement and intensity of passions characterised these confrontations. Given the prevailing climinate and context the coming Sahara Cup will in all probability be a tense tussle.

Our watchwords should be 'Faith, Unity and Discipline' If the atmosphere in the dressing room is conducive it is bound to be reflected on the field and in actual performance. Spirit along with skill can go a long way to carve a victory.

Source:: Dawn (https://dawn.com/)