Miandad, Sarfraz call for Waqar’s removal

ISLAMABAD/KARACHI: Former Test cricketers Javed Miandad and Sarfraz Nawaz on Wedn­esday expressed disappointment over Pakistan’s loss in the third ODI against England.

Talking to APP, Miandad alleged that the playing XI was selected keeping in view the likes and dislikes of head coach Waqar Younis so was responsible to a great extent for the defeat.

He claimed that opening batsman Ahmed Shehzad had also been a victim of the coach as he had some disciplinary issues with the coach and team management.

“Why did the Pakistan Cricket Board select Shehzad for T20s and not ODIs?” he questioned.

He said the nepotism was damaging the players and team’s performance.

Speaking about ex-England captain Michael Vaughan who raised doubts on Pakistan’s loss in the third ODI, Miandad said he did not want to comment on it but it was time to bring in a new coach.

Former Test cricketer Sarfraz Nawaz said captain Azhar Ali and coach were responsible for the defeat.

Commenting on Vaughan’s allegations, Sarfraz said Waqar was also the coach on Pakistan’s tour to England in 2010 when the spot-fixing controversy involving Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt occurred.

“I feel Waqar should be removed and a new coach be brought in,” he said.

Sarfraz said Azhar should also be questioned regarding Vaughan’s allegations and an inquiry report should be conducted on priority basis.

Bari, Aamir surprised at defeats

Meanwhile, former skippers Wasim Bari and Aamir Sohail also experessed their surprise over the successive defeats of Pakistan team in the ODIs.

“It was astounding to see that we failed to match England despite playing in our favourites conditions and environments,” Bari said on Wednesday.

“Unnecessary experimentation and failure to stick to basics were the key reasons for our defeat,” he remarked.

He said it was a mystery why Pakistan’s prime opener in limited over games Ahmed Shehzad is sitting on the bench despite a poor show by other openers in the series so far.

“Shehzad is a batsman in top bracket and can put any bowling attack under pressure. To constantly bench him is really a waste of talent,” he added.

“Pakistan’s catching and fielding has also not been up to the mark,” he maintained.

Aamir also blasted the team management for what he termed perplexing decisions.

“Pakistan’s coaching staff continues to make tactical errors and reshuffling in batting order is creating havoc,” said Aamir.

“We fail to understand change in the batting order after our winning start in the first ODI in Abu Dhabi. Without any shadow of doubt Pakistan is a better team — experience wise and talent wise. But we have paid the penalty due to tactical mistake.”

Former left-arm spinner and chief selector Iqbal Qasim also sounded surprised with the panic-like situation in Pakistan camp.

“The three run-outs of Azhar Ali, Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Rizwan broke the back of Pakistan batting and proved fatal for us,” said Iqbal.

Published in Dawn