Dawn
Pakistan's most widely circulated English language newspaper.
Cricket plans for World Cup
Khawaja Shujauddin
24 August 1998
There is no doubt that individually, our cricketers are world class
but they do not form a world class team, which includes at least six
world class players in Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Saeed Anwar,
Mushtaq Ahmed, Saqlain Mushtaq and Inzimamul Haq. No other team in
the word has a galaxy of world class players like ours but still
their performance is better than the Pakistan team.
In my humble opinion, the cause of the poor performance is the
mismanagement on the part of the PCB officials.
The players of today are to be handled professionally in order to get
the best out of them. And that requires planning and professionalism.
Both these elements are missing in our cricket officials. If the
following measures are taken Pakistan has very bright chances of
winning the next World Cup.
- The team should be selected at least 3/4 months before the
commencement of the tournament. Initially 20/22 players should be
selected and finally the required number of players should be
selected.
- Wasim Akram should be appointed captain with full responsibility,
who is experienced and mature enough to handle the young players.
Although Aamir Sohail has been appointed captain for the Sahara Cup
but for the World Cup, he should be made vice-captain. Wasim is
reluctant to accept the captaincy because of the traumatic experience
at the hands of the previous management and some of his team-mates.
He has all the qualities of a winning captain. This he has proved
against the West Indies team by winning the series 3-0.
- Salim Malik should be selected for the tournament.
- If Waqar Younis has lost his speed or effectiveness he should be
dropped from the team and replaced by Mohammad Zahid or some other
young player.
- Selectors should not be vindictive and biased.
- Hasib Ahsan or Dr. Zafar Altaf should be sent as manager. They
know the art of getting the best out of every player. They also know
the art of maintaining discipline without annoying the players.
- If there are some personal differences between The Management and
some other people, these differences should be set aside for the time
being in the larger interest of the country. We should, therefore,
not miss this opportunity of winning the World Cup scheduled to be
held in England in 1999.
Source: Dawn
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Date-stamped : 07 Oct1998 - 04:24