Sohail lambasts selectors (1 December 1998)

1 December 1998

Sohail lambasts selectors

By Our Special Representative

PESHAWAR, Nov 30: The difference of opinion between the skipper and coach of the Pakistan team came to surface when both contradicted themselves in the post-match conference on Monday.

While Aamir Sohail emphasised that he was not being considered in selectorial matters, Javed Miandad said he was consulted "and if Aamir says he was not approached, well, I don't know that.

"The selection committee contacts us and we give them our suggestions. But they are the final authority. Every committee has its own job and the selector's task is to select the team."

Sohail shortly ate his own words when he said he had asked for Mohammad Akram but the selectors turned a deaf ear. When inquired if that was the reason to criticise the selectors, he did not reply.

Sohail raised his eye brows when Javed Miandad toed his own line and didn't support him when he was asked about the combination of the team.

While Sohail maintained that the selectors didn't give him experienced batsmen on the wickets on which at least six batsmen had to play, Miandad said: "I don't agree with him (Aamir Sohail). I think Moin Khan has played as a specialist batsman while Azhar Mahmood has two centuries, including one on debut."

It is now anybody's guess that when the two key officials of the team can't think on identical lines, how the team would perform.

Javed Miandad was diplomatic on discussing the selection procedures, Aamir Sohail wasted no opportunity to launch a scathing attack on Wasim Bari's panel.

"Sitting back in Karachi, they finalized the team for the Peshawar Test where the wicket had grass. It was a type of wicket where we needed specialist batsmen and bowlers. On the contrary, they gave us two spinners. Look at Australia, for the Perth Test, they dropped Stuart MacGill and selected a packed pace attack.

"If the selectors wouldn't come to the venues, this is the type of selection they are going to make," he blasted.

When pressed further Sohail admitted he was a helpless man. "The 14 picked are not of my choice and the 11 who played here were also not finalized with my consent.

"I would reconsider my options when I reach Lahore. But I think I would take at least one more chance and if the selectors didn't accept my suggestion, I would step down," he said.

Javed Miandad said he had been telling the batsmen what to do "but it seems that nothing is working well for us."

Alistair Campbell said it was a great moment for Zimbabwe cricket. "Not many teams come here and win. It took Australia 39 years to beat Pakistan in Pakistan. In this prospective, we have done superbly to beat Pakistan in six years and on third visit."

Campbell said the interest back home had increased after his team beat India in the one-off Test. "After that, we beat Sri Lanka twice in Sharjah and played the final against India. Here, we lost the one-day series 2-1 but at one stage it as 1-all. This particular cricket will got a long way in making Zimbabwe a formidable team in years to come because more youngsters would take up the sport."

Campbell said the turning point of the match was when Henry Olonga took three wickets in 10 balls to reduce Pakistan to 14 for four. "We never looked back after coming in that situation."

The Zimbabwe captain called the ICC to give more Tests to his team against strong countries like South Africa, West Indies and Australia.

"We have not played West Indies and Australia in six years though the boys are very keen and interested in facing them. One gets bored playing against same opposition besides Pakistan is a team which not many teams would like to play more often."

He, however, hoped that if his team continued to win Tests, the ICC might be persuaded to give Zimbabwe more Tests both home and away.

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