Miandad lambasts PCB for Shoaib-Asif saga

Lahore, Mar 2 (UNI) Former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad has held Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) responsible for creating a mess with its late decision to exclude the pace-duo of Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif from the the Caribbean bound team.

''The uncertainty on the eve of the world's biggest cricket extravaganza depicts how the PCB, the team management and the selectors have been dealing with the serious issue in the most non-serious manner and they are the real culprit behind the mess,'' an emotional Miandad was quoted by Dawn as saying.

He further lamented the PCB working system for picking up an unfit Shoaib and Asif, without having clear reports about their fitness before the Cup.

''The whole exercise shows we have no clear vision about our strategy for the World Cup which should have been devised two years ago. The well paid foreign experts including coach, trainer and physio were hired for this mega event three years ago, but sadly on the big day they all proved that they were clueless about their strategy, which eventually forced the pace-dou to get their treatment in London,'' the legendary middle-order batsman pointed out.

Expressing concerns about the state of affairs of Pakistan cricket, the former captain said the nation was, indeed, disappointed over the prevailing situation and he could only pray to the Almighty for Pakistan's success against such heavy odds in the World Cup.

The PCB yesterday ruled the availabilty of the fast bowlers for the showpiece event which starts in the Caribban from March 11. The decision was announced by the Chief Selctor Waseem Bari, just before the departure of the team.

UNI