ISLAMABAD - Former Pakistan Test batsmen, coach and chief selector Mohsin Hasan Khan termed green caps performance against below-strength Sri Lanka as totally unacceptable and well beyond expectations.
Mohsin while talking with The Nation on Wednesday said the way Pakistan cricket team was whitewashed in the 2-Test series was enough to show what a blunder former interim chairman Najam Sethi had committed, no one else but Sethi is responsible for appointing Waqar Younis and Grant Flower.
He said it was the prime duty of team management to back skipper and players in tricky situations. “Pakistan team flopped miserably both with willow and leather. It is one of the weakest Sri Lankan side while on the other hand Pakistan are way ahead balanced and much stronger on ground and on paper. It is the fault of team management, who failed to get best out of their players. I don't agree entire blame of defeat pass on to skipper only. Misbah is responsible for poor results and his batting is also not up to the mark but team management must also shoulder the blame of defeat.”
He showed his amazement over the strategy of team management as after Test series defeat they should have devised a more complete and different plan but they failed to do so. He said Pakistan won first ODI just because of exceptional partnership by Sohaib Maqsood and Fawad Alam. Mohsin questioned the appointment of Flower as batting coach as according to him Flower had never known for his exceptional batting and never remained a successful coach.
Mohsin said Pakistani bowlers failed to control runs flow in both ODIs and after conceding too many runs, the task was never easy for the batsmen. “But I must admit, I can't believe the way Pakistani batsmen flopped to cope with the ordinary Sri Lankan bowling. Hafeez and Ahmed Shahzad after scoring half centuries just gifted their wickets. Misbah once again gifted his wicket while trying to create a stroke while Umar Akmal should have used commonsense. “ He said team selection was also highly questionable as in the absence of Saeed Ajmal, Zulfiqar Babar should have been included in the side to balance the bowling. “I don't want to comment on the tainted team management. These poor results were very much on the cards. No one could expect better results from these persons who are at the helm of affairs. Misbah must have to improve his batting otherwise, his place in the playing XI is very much in doubt.”
Team must enter with a clear game plan in the third and last ODI to stand any chance of restoring some pride,” Mohsin concluded.