Salahuddin in search of 'patriotic' Pakistani cricketers

Lahore, Apr (UNI) Charting a new course of action for Pakistan cricket, newly appointed chairman of the national selection committee Salahuddin Ahmed said he prefers cricketers who feel proud to represent Pakistan.

In an interview with Dawn on Wedneday, Salahuddin said, ''Playing for the country is a great honour and I believe only those players can deliver who have the will to serve the country.'' Salahuddin, a former Test cricketer who replaced Wasim Bari after Pakistan's debacle in the ongoing World Cup, is the head of the first paid selection committee.

Pledging to work in a more professional manner, he said, ''As the board will be paying us, we have to deliver. I think as full time selectors we can do our job with commitment and in professional way.'' The newly appointed chief selector said other two members of the committee were selected on his recommendations.

''I preferred Shafqat (Rana) as he is a highly respectable figure and Saleem Jaffar because he is close to domestic cricket as he is the coach of Karachi Urban team.'' He said his top priorities were to maintain discipline in the team, improve players' fitness and find a good opening pair.

''There will be no compromise on discipline and fitness as I consider these two areas as the most important to build a formidable side.

''A large number of changes were the main reason for not finding a good opening pair after Aamir Sohail and Saeed Anwar,'' Salahuddin, who has earned the big post for the second time, said.

When asked how he would combat with rising players' power in the Pakistan side, the chief selector said it was the job of disciplinary committee or manager of the team.

''I think a strong manager should be appointed with the power to impose on the spot penalty on players to check such incidents.'' Salahuddin, who is also a member of the World Cup's Performance Evaluation Committee (PEC), said he had no idea that he would be offered the post when he joined the PEC.

About the selection criteria which he will follow while selecting the team, he pointed out that there would be no room for players who knew little batting and little bowling and to get selected, one must be specialist in either of the two departments.

''I am not against all-rounders, but I do not like 'makeshift' arrangements. A cricketer must and should be selected for his specialisation in one department and his additional qualities in other departments should be treated as secondary,'' he explained.

He said the selection committee would be completely independent though it would take the feedback and advice from the captain and coach.

UNI