Resting key players wasn’t a prudent decision: Jalal

KARACHI: Former Test and ODI cricketer Jalaluddin has said that Pakistan’s disastrous performance against Australia in the UAE in one day matches has shaken the confidence of the team and its management.

Talking to 'The News' on Sunday, the former fast bowler said disturbing the team combination against Australia, just two months before the World Cup, was a folly. He said it looked there was something fishy.

He said that there was no need to rest players just two months before the World Cup and break the team combination. "There was no need to check Umar Akmal, Junaid Khan and Shinwari. They are all recognised cricketers," he said and added that it was okay to give chance to such players as Abid Ali, Hasnain and Saad. "But seasoned cricketers are not tested in this way -- I mean by resting such players as Sarfraz Ahmed, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, and Shadab Khan," he said.

"What benefit did we achieve by appointing Shoaib Malik as captain in this important ODI series?" he asked. "His career is going to end after the World Cup. It would have been better to appoint a fresh lad and groom him," said Jalal.

He said that Inzamam-ul-Haq-led selection committee was responsible for this fiasco. "They have made things complicated. Rizwan Ahmed has scored two centuries. What would the selection committee do now? Would they select two wicketkeepers in a 15-member squad for World Cup?" he asked.

Jalal, who achieved the first-ever hat-trick in ODI cricket, said the selection committee and the team management would have to work out a new strategy for the England series and the World Cup. "The way Pakistan lost the first four matches is disgusting and shattering the team’s confidence ahead of a big event," he added.

"Losing in such a manner in a home series and that too while the Australians were without the services of their two key players should be an eye-opener for PCB. PCB chairman Ehsan Mani and MD Wasim Khan must ask the selection committee what vision it had for the World Cup," said Jalal.