Former players criticize Pak team, officials for Dubai series defeat

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Lahore May 5 (ANI): The 3-2 series defeat that Pakistan had to face in the recently concluded Dubai one-day international series against Australia has seen several former cricketers of the country criticizing the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the team.

Many former players and game's top administrators have criticized the players for their inability to challenge a second-string Australian team.

Former chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed condemned the chief pitch curator Agha Zahid, who was sent to Dubai specially to prepare pitches which would suite Pakistani players, and assistant coach Aaqib Javed and held them responsible for the team's defeat.

"Someone should ask these people what was the logic behind preparing such poor pitches when they were sent to Dubai and Abu Dhabi," The Nation quoted Ahmed, as saying.

Former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq said Pakistan had lost a golden opportunity to defeat the weakened world champions.

"I am surprised because Australia lost to India and South Africa before this series even with Ricky Ponting and their other leading players who are not playing in this series. "I think the batting ore than the bowling let us down," he said.

Another former captain Wasim Akram lashed out at the strategy of the team during the whole series.

Referring to the team management's decision to rest fast bowler Umar Gul for the important fourth game, Akram said: "I fail to understand why you rest your on-form bowler."

"Pakistan was 2-1 behind, not in front, and only a winning team can afford to have a rotation policy," he added.

He said Younis Khan was taking extra burden on himself due to the captaincy, which was affecting his batting too.

"Younis needs to calm down and learn from experience. He made a couple of costly mistakes, he should have promoted Kamran Akmal top of the order because he has been batting well," Akram added. (ANI)