In exclusive remarks to PakPassion.net, Iqbal Qasim spoke candidly on a variety of topics such as his overall thoughts on the outcome of the series, Pakistan's batting woes and inconsistent performances, team selection and the concept of selecting 3 separate teams as well as the all important topic of lack of form for Younis Khan and his future in Pakistani cricket.

By Saj Sadiq (20th June, 2012)

 

With Pakistan losing the 5th and final ODI from seemingly comfortable positions, the ire of the fans and observers is likely to turn towards the reasons behing some lacklustre performances by the national side.

The Chief of Selectors, Iqbal Qasim is likely to face some stern questions arising from this defeat and the apparent inconsistency of Pakistani batting as well as the lack of penetration of the Pakistani bowling attack.

In exclusive remarks to PakPassion.net, Iqbal Qasim spoke candidly on a variety of topics such as his overall thoughts on the outcome of the series, Pakistan's batting woes and inconsistent performances, team selection and the concept of selecting 3 separate teams as well as the all important topic of lack of form for Younis Khan and his future in Pakistani cricket.

 

 

Overall Thoughts on the One Day & T20 Series in Sri Lanka

You have to remember that the Sri Lankans are a very strong unit in their own conditions so this was never going to be an easy series of matches in the twenty over and fifty over format. It’s difficult to put Sri Lanka under pressure in their own conditions and the variable weather conditions did not make things easy for Pakistan either.

However we should not make excuses, the overall performance of the team was below par, but amongst the disappointment there were some positives from the 6 matches.

We made the squads with the future in mind, particularly with the introduction of youth in the Twenty over format. The idea of the three separate teams is a good one and one we will continue to work upon this theory. Youth is a key ingredient for a successful team in the twenty over format and that is something that we will continue to invest in. Boys like Haris Sohail are cricketers who I feel have a very bright future for Pakistan.

I think that slowly and gradually our philosophy in both the 50 over format and the twenty over format will bear fruit but everyone has to be patient. I am optimistic about the future despite the fact that we won 2 matches and lost four matches in the limited overs internationals in Sri Lanka.


Replacing Batsman Nasir Jamshed with a Bowler for the One Day Internationals

The plan was to see who performed well in the 2 T20Is in Sri Lanka, to see who was in form and the on tour team management would then make a request to the Board for that particular player to replace Nasir (Jamshed). There was no guarantee that a replacement was to be requested and it was entirely up to the on tour team management as to who would be requested.

Sohail Tanvir was bowling well in the two Twenty20 internationals and the team management requested that he be added to the one day international squad in place of Nasir Jamshed. I think it was a fair call as Tanvir also bowled well in the one day series.


Ahmed Shehzad Not Picked for the One Day Internationals

We selected Ahmed (Shehzad) for the twenty over format as he had performed well recently in that format. Our planning was that we wanted to pick those boys who have been performing consistently well in twenty over cricket such as Ahmed and Khalid Latif particularly for the format that we feel they specialise in.

Ahmed is a promising cricketer but at this point we felt that he was an ideal selection for the twenty over format rather than the fifty over matches. But I don’t want to pigeon hole him and say that he is only suited to twenty over cricket, I’m sure that he will be pushing for a starting place in one day internationals also very soon.


Hammad Azam’s Omission from the One Day Squad

The team management based upon his performances in the Asia Cup in Bangladesh felt that Hammad’s bowling requires improvement. We discussed Hammad at length before we picked the squads and where his strengths and weaknesses lie and the team management felt that his bowling needs to become more effective in international cricket.

Hammad’s batting is impressive, he’s a good batsman but has work to do on his bowling to make him a genuine all rounder. It was felt that an experienced all rounder was needed in the one day series and Yasir Arafat was preferred in the starting eleven in the T20Is as the team required an additional bowling resource.

I would urge Hammad to continue to work hard and to keep his focus and to work particularly hard on his bowling.


The Future of Younis Khan in ODIs

There are some decisions that an individual has to make himself. Younis has of course already requested not to be selected in T20s, I don’t know what he has in mind regarding 50 over cricket. Let the tour of Sri Lanka finish and then we will definitely discuss his future plans with him.

There is no doubt that irrespective of how experienced you are, how many good performances you have provided the team with over the years, you need to be performing . Experience is an invaluable commodity in cricket but you have to be out in the middle performing which unfortunately Younis has not been doing in 50 over cricket of late.

It’s the duty of the senior cricketers to lead the team, to carry the team and to drive it forward, but if one of your senior players is struggling then that puts pressure on the team. Younis is a cricketer that we all admire, he has given great service over the years for Pakistan in all formats. Let Younis return from Sri Lanka and I’m sure we will have an amicable chat about his future, as Pakistan needs him for Test cricket for the future.


Inconsistency and a Lack of Professionalism are Major Concerns

I don’t just think it’s the batting where Pakistan has been lacking in Sri Lanka. There has been a distinct lack of consistency in all areas of their cricket. One day the fielding is outstanding, the next game it’s very poor and the boys are dropping simple catches. The same with the batting, one day it clicks, the next day it misfires. Consistency is an area of Pakistan’s cricket that is really lacking at the moment.

Mohammad Sami is an example of this inconsistency, one day he bowls very well and helps the team to victory, the next day he bowls poorly and costs the team the game. It doesn’t matter what your game plan is going into the game - it’s very difficult to impose that game plan onto the opposition if you are inconsistent.

It’s time for individuals to accept responsibility and to realise that they have to be more consistent. The thought process of the Pakistani cricketer has to change, they have to become more professional. If this does not occur then there will not be improvement.

There are some big names in the Pakistan limited overs teams and it’s high time those big names started to add consistency and professionalism to their cricket as both were lacking in Sri Lanka recently. Every player has a role to play – yes, collectively the performance is important but individuals have to put their hand up and perform on a regular basis not just once in a while.

This inconsistency has been hurting Pakistan cricket for many years and it’s about time it was eradicated and I am confident that with the professional coaching set up we have in place we will see some positive changes soon.


The Body Language of the Pakistan Team in Sri Lanka

When you are not performing well and lacking in confidence then your body language is not going to look good at all. Everything tends to fall apart for you when you are struggling, your body language included. When confidence is low then all the negatives and the flaws become apparent.

Sometimes it’s difficult to work out just what is going on as the Pakistani cricketers are outstanding world beaters one day, yet on another day the team just looks ordinary and all of their weaknesses and flaws are there for everyone to see.


The Fielding

Fielding is down to the individual. You can be trained, coached, watch video after video but at the end of the day it is down to you as to how good your fielding is. You can be taught the skills, given direction by the coach, trained on areas to improve upon but the efforts of the individual are the key. You can practice all day, every day but once you are on the field it’s down to you to put into practice what you have been working on in training.

I think it may be down to the temperament of some players and the concentration levels, but whatever it is, the fielding was poor in Sri Lanka and individuals have to again take the responsibility for their fielding.


Upcoming Series versus Australia and the T20 World Cup

I think it’s too late to experiment now ahead of the T20 World Cup and I would expect that most of the personnel in the T20 squad in Sri Lanka recently will be retained. I don’t think we should panic in this format and make major adjustments to the T20 squad.

We presented opportunities to the squad for the series in Sri Lanka and I fully expect that most of that squad will feature in the T20 matches against Australia and in the T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka. The players have to be given a decent opportunity and you cannot chop and change ahead of a World Cup. There is no point selecting a player for a couple of games and then discarding him.

I’m very hopeful and confident that Pakistan can perform well at the T20 World Cup. I’m optimistic as when the Pakistan team is “together” and in form they can defeat anybody on their day.