PCB opts to ‘wait and see’ despite Dhaka debacle

KARACHI: It’s hard to see many positives in Pakistan’s embarrassing 0-3 loss in the recently-concluded ODI series against Bangladesh.
But it’s probably easy to do that if you are an aging, ex-diplomat entrusted with the job of running Pakistan cricket.
Shaharyar Khan, the octogenarian chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), announced on Thursday that despite the debacle in Dhaka his board won’t be pressing any panic buttons.
In a statement issued by the PCB, Shaharyar made it clear that while he has taken note of Pakistan’s dismal performance against Bangladesh, which led to the whitewash in the ODI series, “we shall not be pressing any panic buttons.”
The PCB chief believes that a big reason for his team’s defeats was that Bangladesh are now a hugely-improved side.
“Like all cricket fans in Pakistan, I am deeply disappointed at the ODI whitewash in Bangladesh. We are playing a highly proficient Bangladesh team that has improved by leaps and bounds over the past few years. Yet such a display was unanticipated. We shall not be pressing any panic buttons but will wait for the tour’s end before engaging in a thorough review of all factors.”
Shaharyar chose to draw support from Misbah-ul-Haq, Pakistan’s Test captain, who recently urged more time for the relatively young ODI squad.
“As Misbah has said, this is a new and young team which will take time to gel together,” Shaharyar said.
“Despite the losses, there have been some encouraging performances, notably by captain Azhar Ali, who has led by example, Mohammad Rizwan, Saad Nasim and Sami Aslam.
“We need specially to evaluate fitness and fielding issues and also the mental strength of our boys, which was found wanting.
“We remain high on the ICC’s Test and Twenty20 ladders but need to improve our ODI rating. I am sure given time this young team will show results.”
Agencies add: Fast-rising Bangladesh exposed a new look Pakistan team under a new captain Azhar Ali in all three matches played in Dhaka, winning by margins of 79 runs, seven and eight wickets.
It was Pakistan’s fifth one-day series loss in the last 12 months, prompting calls to sack coach Waqar Younis and bring back opener Ahmed Shahzad and middle-order batsman Umar Akmal who were dropped for the tour over disciplinary issues.
With their 3-0 defeat Pakistan slumped to eighth in the International Cricket Council (ICC) rankings — their worst since the system was introduced in 2003. Pakistan are placed fourth in Tests and third in Twenty20.