ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Zaka Ashraf met former Pakistani Test cricketers Aaqib Javed, Mohammad Yousuf, Inzamam-ul-Haq on Tuesday to seek their input on the development process of the current Pakistani cricketers, a day after the green shirts suffered a humiliating loss to Afghanistan.
Pakistan’s chances of making it to the semifinal stages of the ongoing ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup were dealt a serious blow on Monday after Babar Azam’s side suffered a humiliating eight-wicket loss to Afghanistan in Chennai. It was the team’s third successive loss at the tournament after two opening wins against the Netherlands and Sri Lanka.
Azam and the team have faced severe criticism from cricket analysts and commentators as Pakistani bowlers, considered the squad’s strength, have leaked runs throughout the tournament. To top it all, the green shirts have fielded horribly throughout the World Cup, dropping catches and giving away easy runs.
“PCB Chairman Management Committee, Mr.Zaka Ashraf, met with former Test cricketers Aaqib Javed, Mohammad Yousuf and Inzamam-ul-Haq (chief selector) to seek advice in the player development process,” the cricket board said in a statement.
PCB said Ashraf is also looking to engage other former cricketers Umar Gul, Waqar Younis, Wasim Akram and Saqlain Mushtaq “in the near future” to seek their opinion over the development process of current Pakistani cricketers.
“Mr Zaka Ashraf emphasised on the Board’s focus toward engaging the expertise of former players, who have represented Pakistan in various capacities, to help groom players as specialized batters, spinners and fast bowlers,” the statement said.
It said that the National Cricket Academy plans to organize a specialized camp with the domestic circuit’s “top talent,” adding that its primary goal would be to nurture domestic cricketers for the international stage.
“These players have served Pakistan at the highest stage and have a treasure of experience under their belts,” Ashraf said about the ex-Pakistani cricketers. “We hope to utilize their expertise to help ensure our players are developed well in all aspects of the game.”
Pakistan will stay in Chennai to face South Africa on Friday, while Afghanistan play Sri Lanka in Pune on Sunday.