Lahore: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is under fire for appointing Mohammad Yousuf as the captain of the Test team.
Former players and officials have criticized the PCB for the sudden change in the leadership and blamed the board for not standing by Younus Khan, who has been going through a rough patch in his career.
Former opening batsman Aamir Sohail said the PCB should have supported Khan following reports of some senior players volleying against him.
“The same PCB had given full support to Younis some two weeks ago following the National Assembly row and should have once again conveyed a warning to the rebel players to either support the captain or go out,” The Dawn quoted Sohail, as saying.
“I think this old culture and problem of player-power should be rooted out completely from Pakistan cricket. If any player or players think they are bigger than the team, they should be dropped at once,” he added.
Sohail raised questions over the PCB’s way of handling issues saying the board had snubbed Yousuf earlier and had appointed Shoaib Malik the captain of the squad.
“When Yousuf was not good enough then, howcome the PCB finds him suitable for leadership now?” he questioned.
Former chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed came down hard on board chairman Ijaz Butt for his unprofessional way of handling things at the apex cricket authority in the country.
“The way Ijaz Butt has changed three skippers in one year’s time and sent home legendary former Test cricketers like Javed Miandad, Abdul Qadir, Aamir Sohail one after the other from the PCB offices proves his inability to hold such an important post in Pakistan cricket,” Ahmed said.
He said the board should have sent a ‘no-nonsense’ message to the players who were complaining against Younus Khan’s leadership.
Former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, however, has criticised Khan for opting out of the Test series against the Kiwis.
He said it is not right for a captain to leave his team in a lurch during a much important series.
PCB under fire for appointing Yousuf as Test skipper
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