Pakistan’s cricket team exited the ICC Champions Trophy without securing a victory, marking their third consecutive early exit from a major tournament. Former captain Sana Mir criticized the team’s selection choices, arguing that the fate of the squad was determined at the announcement stage. She emphasized the inadequacy of including part-time spinners and questioned the selectors’ ability to identify players suited for specific conditions.
Pakistan’s cricket team suffered a disappointing exit from the ICC Champions Trophy, marking the third consecutive tournament in which they failed to advance beyond the first round. This time, they completed the tournament without a win, having lost significantly to New Zealand and India, while their final match against Bangladesh was abandoned due to rain.
In a review of Pakistan’s performance, former captain Sana Mir attributed the team’s struggles to poor selection. While discussing the India-Pakistan match, she recounted a conversation where she remarked that the team’s fate was sealed upon the announcement of their 15-man squad. She emphasized that even a legendary player like MS Dhoni could not salvage the situation with that team.
Mir criticized the team’s choice of players, particularly pointing out the inclusion of two part-time spinners. She noted, “How are you going there with two part-time spinners? Abrar is still new in ODI cricket. These two part-time spinners have taken only two wickets while averaging 165 in the last 5 months.” She argued that such decisions undermined their ability to compete effectively.
Additionally, she reflected on Pakistan’s previous successes in Australia and South Africa and suggested that the selectors failed to choose players suited to the conditions. “You were getting wickets in the middle overs during the Australia and South Africa series. How have you not selected players for these conditions?” she questioned, pointing to the need for a more strategic approach in team selection.
In summary, Pakistan’s early exit from the Champions Trophy highlights critical failures in team selection, as underscored by former captain Sana Mir. She expressed that even the best players cannot succeed without the right support. The continued lack of appropriate choices raises concerns for the team’s future performance in international tournaments.
Original Source: www.sportingnews.com
