Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has defended the major changes in the Test team as essential in view of the team’s poor performance in England.
Speaking to the media in London, Naqvi said that he was disappointed with the performances, but added that the board was also looking at other issues.
He added that there was no stipulation for the players or the officials to stay for three years and the PCB will give opportunities to the players wherever required.
Naqvi also highlighted Pakistan’s overall improvement in white-ball cricket, citing their performance and ranking.
He claimed that Pakistan improved from the rank of eighth in ODIs to fifth and had won four out of its last six bilateral series.
The team in T20Is had worked their way up from ninth place in the rankings to sixth and from a 24 to 74 per cent success rate.
He did say, however, that some of the reasons for the Test side’s performance being “very bad” could not be discussed publicly at this time.
He also condemned the public criticism of players, and admitted mistakes in selection were made, but promised that the selectors would answer for their actions.
Pakistan Test team arrives in Birmingham ahead of the third Test against England, which will start on September 9.
The Test team has undergone a drastic change after losing at Lord’s, sending back seven players including Imam-ul-Haq.
The head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul were also sacked. Misbah-ul-Haq, the former captain, later quit the selection committee.
Aaqib Javed said that the changes were made due to Pakistan’s inability to give a good performance in the first two Tests.
Javed also said that the team management had an all-rounder, another wicketkeeper and fast bowler, Ubaid Shah who had the ability to bowl at 140km per hour, but they were not utilised in the matches.
He admitted that he had suggested Ubaid to Babar Azam and the coach to join the squad as it was important for Pakistan to have more pace and an all-round option to bolster the bowling attack.