Sharjah Cup has assumed great importance after Pakistan’s dismal defeat in the Asian Test Championship

Salahuddin Sallu31-Mar-2002Sharjah Cup has assumed great importance after Pakistan’s dismal defeat in the Asian Test Championship. Fortunately the selectors have made amends for their mistakes in the ATC Selection.Waseem Akram and Saqlain Mushtaq have once again been included in the team as dropping them was an unpardonable lapse that Pakistan dearly paid for. Anyway better late than never.The team that the selectors have picked is in my view appropriate barring the inclusion of Misbahul Haq and Faisal Iqbal. In fact there could not have been a better squad. The only shortcoming is the absence of leg-break bowler – left arm or right arm. We have not produced a noteworthy left-arm spinner after Iqbal Qasim. But there is no dearth of talent to fill this gap only if the selectors launch an earnest search. Ofcourse it will take time and sincere effort.As regards the right-arm leg-spinner also called a wrist spinner, we have a talented player in Danesh Kaneria who proved his worth even on the slowest pitches in Bangladesh and Sharjah. The selectors should focus attention on him as he can prove to be an invaluable asset for Pakistan in future, provided he is given ample attention and opportunity. True, he is a poor fielder but I have seen him improving on this count in recent matches.We presently have two spinners – both of whom are off-spinners. While Saqlain is world class Shoaib Malik is ordinary. The selection committee during the tenure of Dr Zafar Altaf had picked Shoaib Malik as Saqlain’s under study for Australian tour. But contrary to expectations he could not improve. Anyway he is a very good fielder and a useful batsman. But he does not actually serve as an off-spinner the burden of which Saqlain has to carry.Misbahul Haq, has however, no place in the team. In my opinion which may not exactly tally with the selectors and the coach, the playing eleven should be as follows: 1. Shahid Afridi, 2. Imran Nazir, 3. Younus Khan, 4. Inzimamul Haq, 5. Yousuf Youhana, 6. Abdul Razzaq, 7. Rashid (WK), 8. Wasim Akram, 9. Saqlain Mushtaq, 10. Waqar Younus (Captain) and 11 Shoaib Akhtar.If the top five batsmen cannot score I think Pakistan doesn’t deserve to win a match. In the past batting posed a problem but we do not have a better line-up. The selectors deserve credit for picking fourteen players on merit. Danesh, as I pointed out earlier, should have been the 15th member if there was room for one. But probably he doesn’t have the same recommendation that Faisal Iqbal has. This lucky lad has had a free trip to Dhaka, Sharjah and the ATC venue.Recently he was given an opening slot in the PIA team against the weakest contestants in the group – Hyderabad and Bahawalpur and when the contest was challenging against Customs – the strongest team after PIA, the batting order was changed to shield him. Who are they trying to fool! He is still a part of the latest outfit perhaps over the heads of Waqar and Mudassar Nazar, the skipper and the coach.When a player monopolises the reserved seat at the expense of others, a front is naturally formed against him – a handicap he has to suffer from all his life. In the past too there are many such examples. If selection depends on relationship and connections what is poor Bazid Khan’s fault when Majid Khan has had special equation with Mudassar, Rameez Raja and Mohsin Kamal. I think the PCB should now float a next of kin XI to put the pressure lobby at rest.I am glad that Waqar will continue as captain till the World Cup. As I have written before he is a good captain and his bowling changes as well as field placing reflected the much-needed cricketing sense. Besides that he enjoys respect among players which is very important. He should not, however, allow his ego to affect his decisions. He has got an excellent team – class fast bowlers, a world class off-spinner and a very competent wicket-keeper in Rashid Latif, a courageous and useful batsman and a fighter to the core.Pakistan team under the leadership of Waqar is no doubt a strong contender for the forthcoming World Cup. Only the in-fighting will have to be controlled. The PCB Chairman who is bent upon building up a high-class outfit and an infrastructure, we have been dreaming about for a long time is capable of fulfilling these ambitions.In Karachi where cement pitches have been dismantled and stadium floodlights are beaming, significant development is in sight. Promotional activities in remote areas are in progress. The whole nation is appreciating these developments. He should continue this commendable effort and give due recognition to merit totally rejecting all pressures to prepare a level field.