Synopsis
Ahead of the upcoming match against India, former cricketer Danish Kaneria criticizes PCB for prioritizing the Champions Trophy hosting over developing a competitive team. He points out the team's weaknesses and calls for better player selections.Key Takeaways
- Danish Kaneria criticizes PCB's focus on hosting.
- Pakistan lost their opening match against New Zealand.
- Controversy over India's absence noted by Kaneria.
- Commented on lack of team combination and player exclusions.
- Highlighted weaknesses in batting and bowling, especially in spin.
New Delhi, Feb 22 (NationPress) As the much-anticipated match against India approaches this Sunday, former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria has criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for placing excessive focus on hosting the Champions Trophy instead of fortifying the team for the event.
Pakistan experienced a rocky beginning in their first ICC home tournament since 1996, suffering a 60-run defeat to New Zealand in the opening match held in Karachi. Kaneria also expressed his discontent with the PCB for stirring controversy over India's refusal to visit Pakistan for the eight-team event.
"Pakistan concentrated more on hosting the Champions Trophy than on assembling a competitive team. They have made significant errors. Instead of prioritizing cricket, they continue to create discord over India's absence, fully aware that a hybrid model will be employed during the tournament. Recently, Pakistan struggled to secure a win against the West Indies in the Test series and also faced defeats at home in the Tri-Nation Series," Kaneria stated in an interview with IANS.
"The team lacks a cohesive combination, and they have excluded essential players from the squad. Fakhar Zaman was left out due to his remarks against the PCB but has now been reinstated. He is a crucial member of the team, as evidenced by his past performances," he added.
The Pakistani bowling lineup will be spearheaded by Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf, with Abrar Ahmed serving as the only specialist spinner, while Khushdil Shah and Salman Agha are expected to contribute with part-time spin.
The 44-year-old further pointed out the deficiencies in Pakistan's batting and bowling lineups, emphasizing the absence of a quality spinner in their arsenal.
"Pakistan faces multiple challenges; they have included Imam-ul-Haq as a replacement for Fakhar. There are a couple of competent players, but beyond them, I see little promise. The bowling attack is not formidable. Shaheen's pace has declined, and Haris Rauf is inconsistent, often conceding between 80 to 100 runs in a match without maintaining his line and length. Abrar Ahmed is an average spinner and lacks exceptional talent. I believe Noman Ali should feature in ODIs since Pakistan lacks a quality spinner in this format," Kaneria remarked.
