The Major difference between Pakistan and Indian cricket team selection criteria
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Kamran Akmal, the former cricketer renowned for his contributions to Pakistan's victorious ICC World Twenty20 campaign in 2009, recently shared his insights into the struggles faced by the Pakistan Cricket Team. These insights came after India delivered a resounding victory against Pakistan during the Super Four game of the Asia Cup 2023. On the ARY News show "Har Lamhaa Purjosh," he shed light on the diverging selection processes between Pakistan and India.
Akmal highlighted a significant contrast in the approach to player selection between the two cricketing nations. He emphasized that Pakistan primarily selects players based on their performance in T20 matches. This, in his view, has led to a roster of players who excel in the shorter format but may struggle to handle the pressure in different cricketing formats.
While acknowledging the prowess of individuals like Pakistan captain Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, and Mohammad Rizwan, Akmal expressed concerns about the overall experience of the squad in longer formats. He argued that the team needs comprehensive training to adapt to different game scenarios.
Akmal did not hold back in his critique of Pakistan's batting lineup, labeling it as mismatched. He questioned the effectiveness of the combination of six batters and expressed disappointment that Mohammad Rizwan found himself batting lower in the order.
In a bold recommendation, Akmal proposed that the inconsistent Fakhar Azam should be dropped from the team for the crucial Super Four stage fixture against Bangladesh. He suggested that either captain Babar Azam or Mohammad Rizwan could open the innings instead.
Addressing the form of vice-captain Shadab Khan, Akmal attributed his reduced wicket-taking ability to a transition from being a specialist spinner to an all-rounder. He drew a comparison with Kuldeep Yadav, highlighting Yadav's effectiveness in high-pressure situations due to his specialization.
Lastly, Akmal urged Pakistan to fully utilize Mohammad Nawaz, a passionate specialist spinner who could make significant contributions to the team's success. He contrasted Pakistan's selection process with India's, emphasizing that many of India's players were preparing for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, emphasizing the differences in their squad compositions
