Sana Mir condemned the Pakistan men’s cricket team after their exit from the Champions Trophy, stating that even MS Dhoni’s leadership wouldn’t change their fortunes. She criticized the selection committee for failing to choose players suited to the playing conditions, specifically pointing out the poor performance of selected spin bowlers and the omission of key players from previous series. Mir concluded that the team’s issues stemmed from the squad announcement itself.
Former Pakistan women’s team captain, Sana Mir, criticized the men’s cricket team following their elimination from the Champions Trophy. Mir stated that even having MS Dhoni as captain would not change the team’s fortunes, emphasizing that the squad was poorly selected for the prevailing playing conditions. After losing consecutive matches to New Zealand and Bangladesh, Pakistan’s exit became certain when Bangladesh failed to defeat New Zealand in the tournament’s final round.
Mir expressed her disappointment on the ‘Game On Hai’ programme, stating that the team selection lacked an assessment of crucial playing conditions. She remarked, “The 15 that have been selected… even if you make MS Dhoni or (former Pakistan skipper) Younis Khan captain, nobody can do anything to the team because it has not been selected on the basis of the playing conditions.” She further noted that the match was effectively lost when the squad was announced, indicating a lack of strategic foresight.
Additionally, Mir criticized the selection committee for their choices, saying, “Half the tournament we had lost when we announced the 15-member squad.” She highlighted the poor performance of players like Abrar Ahmed, who in recent months had only taken two wickets while conceding a significant number of runs, equivalent to nearly 83 runs per wicket. Mir also pointed out the absence of key players who had previously performed well in series against Australia and South Africa.
Irfan Khan Niazi was noted for his power-hitting and fielding skills during prior matches, indicating that had the selectors made better choices, the outcome might have been different. Mir concluded that the team’s troubles had started at the selection stage, as she reiterated, “we lost the tournament when we announced the squad.”
Sana Mir’s critique of the Pakistan men’s cricket team’s performance at the Champions Trophy highlights significant issues within the team’s selection process. Her assertions that even legendary players like MS Dhoni could not alter the results underline the importance of proper squad selection based on conditions. This commentary not only reflects disappointment in the team’s strategy but also emphasizes the need for strategic foresight in future selections.
Original Source: indianexpress.com
