Asia Cup 2022: Sadiq Mohammad Wants Chief Selector Sacked After The Asia Cup Failure

Former Test cricketer Sadiq Mohammad urged Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja on Monday to sack the national selection committee, particularly top selector Mohammad Waseem, for failing to field a strong T20 team.

The demand was made shortly after Pakistan’s absolute failure against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup final on Sunday in the UAE.

“It’s the right time to change this selection committee, especially Mohammad Waseem,” Sadiq told ‘The News.

Sadiq Mohammad expressed concern with Pakistan’s errant batting, claiming that the team only had two proper batsmen in captain Babar Azam and wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan. He said the other people were just sloggers. He claimed that the top selector’s favorites were Iftikhar Ahmed and Asif Ali.

“It appears that our chief selection favors Asif and Iftikhar. Despite their poor performance, they are chosen for every away tour. They ought to get some serious rest, in my opinion,” Sadiq stated. Why does the chief selector keep selecting these two, I wonder. The selection criteria are seriously in doubt,” Sadiq Mohammad remarked.

Fakhar Zaman cannot take ones and twos: Sadiq Mohammad

Sadiq Mohammad claimed that Pakistan desperately needed reliable middle-order batters. He claimed that although batting coach Mohammad Yousuf must be delivering lessons on how to play, the middle order batters at the moment lack the mental capacity to pick up the game’s strategies.

“Asif, Iftikhar, and, to some extent, Fakhar Zaman cannot take ones and twos. Fakhar could have been better as an opener as he could utilize the circle in the power-play in the Asia Cup.”

Forget about the strike rate of Fakhar Zaman as he has never been consistent,” Sadiq said. “A technically correct middle order batsman can also hit sixes and he is capable of keeping the scoreboard ticking and keeps bringing seven to eight runs in an over,” he said.

Pakistan lost against Sri Lanka in a match that fluctuated till the final overs of the other team’s innings. Throughout their 172-run chase, Sri Lanka made it difficult for Pakistan to score, and they tightened the screws in the final four overs.

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