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LAHORE: Chief selector Mohsin Hasan Khan on Tuesday said that former captain Wasim Akram had no business to make half-baked statements about matters like national team selection, and advised him to spare some time to know more about the policies of the selectors instead of criticising them without much sense and knowledge. Replying to Wasim’s recent criticism of the selectors’ decision to rest Umar Gul and Wahab Riaz for the upcoming tour of Zimbabwe, Mohsin said: “I was surprised and disappointed over Wasim’s criticism of the selectors over resting some players.
I know that Wasim is very busy with his commitments abroad, but it is very unfair that he comes back to the country after three or four months and without knowing the facts, give statements about the team, about the players and the policy, which can be very damaging.”
“A player of his calibre should realise that such statements can spoil the team spirit and create misunderstanding between the players and the management,” said Mohsin while talking to Dawn on Tuesday.
Mohsin, obviously miffed at Wasim’s comments about the need of consistency in the matters of selection, added: “As far as Wasim’s comments on the consistency in selection are concerned, let me tell him that selection committee knows its job much better than what he thinks.”
“I treat Wasim like my younger brother and undoubtedly he is one of the finest cricketers Pakistan has produced, but if he is so much concerned for Pakistan cricket, then he should be serving our cricket rather than other countries in different capacities,” said Mohsin, a veteran of 48 Tests and 75 ODIs.
“I know he has been approached by the PCB in the past to come and serve Pakistan cricket, but he could not spare time for this national cause,” he recalled.
“I think Wasim does not understand that we have adopted a certain policy to form a solid combination of senior and younger players for the future and this tour of Zimbabwe is the best opportunity for us to try out this combination.”
The chief selector pointed out that Wasim was quite off the mark when insisting on the inclusion of Umar Gul and Wahab and said that the two pacers along with left-arm spinner Abdul Rehman had been involved in all forms of cricket since last one-and-a-half years and, therefore, it was the appropriate time to give them some rest.
“This is an ideal series to rest them and test some budding youngsters since there will be much tougher assignments against Sri Lanka and England ahead and the selectors feel that they will not have any better chance to groom the back up players than against Zimbabwe,” reasoned Mohsin, known as the Lord’s hero for his dazzling double hundred in the 1982 series.
“In order to build a nice, balanced combination with a back up for the future, we are trying to utilise this tour of Zimbabwe because after this tour there are two very tough series ahead,” he said.
“I have no fear or reservations in trying out any young or talented player because I have full support of the PCB on this policy,” emphasised Mohsin.
“I am trying my level best to serve Pakistan cricket because Allah has given me a lot of honour and respect by playing for Pakistan,” said the former opener.
“I played my cricket for Pakistan with courage and honour and strongly believe that for every big achievement, you have to be brave enough to take a calculated risk,” said Mohsin.
When reminded that both Umar and Wahab were still playing county cricket and not exactly taking rest, Mohsin said that the PCB had instructed them not to play the longer version in the county championship and, secondly, there was a huge difference between the demands of county and international cricket.
Mohsin insisted that as chief selector he was constantly in touch with his cricketers, both at home and abroad, and he and his entire selection committee knew it fully well where and when the players could play or rest.
