Published: Sep 05, 2013, 11:37 AM (IST)
Edited: Sep 05, 2013, 11:37 AM (IST)
Iqbal Qasim (Photo Courtesy: PakPassion)
Karachi: Sep 5, 2013
Former Pakistan spinner and chief selector Iqbal Qasim has slammed the national team players for lacking “personal pride” and “hunger for success”.
“In Imran’s time and even after that we played with aggression and flair. Today our team lacks these things and that is hurting progress of players,” said Qasim, who resigned as chief selector two months back after handpicking the squad for the West Indies tour.
“What I have noticed is that in the past we had a formidable side because most of the players were hungry for individual records and success and took pride in their own performances. I saw these in players like Imran, Miandad, Wasim, Inzamam, Saeed Anwar, Moin, Rashid, Malik, Yousuf and many others,” he said.
“Today this very thing is lacking in our players. They don’t play for personal pride nor they are hungry for individual success. Many of them are just content on making the squad and being part of the touring side,” the former left-arm spinner said told Geo News.
The former chief selector said there were talented players in the Pakistan side and some of them could be greats if they took more pride in their own performances.
“When a player is eager to perform as a individual it eventually always helps the team’s cause.”
Qasim said that captain, Misbah-ul-Haq was the exception in the side.
“Misbah is someone I feel who is hungry for success and takes pride in his own performances. This is perhaps because of the criticism he has faced in the past or because he knows that at his age there is pressure on him to keep on performing all the time,” he said.
He also made it clear that he didn’t see a permanent role for Mohammad Hafeez in the Pakistan Test side in his present capacity.
“He is vulnerable to the new ball and I think he needs to redefine his role. He needs to come into the Test side more as a bowler and bat lower down the order. He is wasting himself batting up the order,” Qasim said.
Asked about his own experiences as a chief selector, Qasim said he always believed in consulting with the coach and captain while finalising squads.
He, however, said that he had always opposed the appointment of a foreign coach for the national team.
“I said this to the board and fellow selectors several times because I just feel our team is more comfortable responding to a local coach,” Qasim said.
