Pakistan Exits ICC Champions Trophy: Former Captain Critiques Team Selection

Pakistan has been eliminated from the ICC Champions Trophy without a win, facing defeats against New Zealand and India, with a washout against Bangladesh. Former captain Sana Mir criticized the team selection, suggesting that even legends like MS Dhoni could not succeed with such a squad. She emphasized the importance of choosing players suited for the conditions based on past successful performances.

Pakistan has been eliminated from the ICC Champions Trophy without securing a single victory, marking their third consecutive first-round exit from an international tournament. The team faced a significant defeat against New Zealand in their opening match, followed by another defeat against India in Dubai. Their final group match against Bangladesh ended in a washout, contributing to their disappointing performance.

Sana Mir, a former captain of the Pakistan women’s cricket team, provided her insights on the team’s shortcomings during a review of the tournament on Tapmad. Mir recounted a message she received from a friend during the India-Pakistan match, predicting failure for the team. She stated, “It was over on the day when we announced our 15-man squad. You can give this squad to MS Dhoni or Younis Khan and nobody would do anything with them.”

Mir criticized the team selection, highlighting the decision to include two part-time spinners in the squad despite their lack of effectiveness. She noted, “You had one match in Dubai. How are you going there with two part-time spinners?” Her analysis emphasized that the selected spinners each took only two wickets while averaging 165 runs over the last five months.

Reflecting on successful performances in previous series in Australia and South Africa, Mir questioned the team’s failure to choose suitable players for the current conditions. She pointed out, “You were getting wickets in the middle overs during the Australia and South Africa series. How have you not selected players for these conditions?” This underscores the need for better strategic decisions by the team management in future tournaments.

In summary, Pakistan’s early exit from the ICC Champions Trophy highlights significant concerns regarding their team selection and performance. Former captain Sana Mir articulated her views on the poor squad choices, indicating that even legendary figures like MS Dhoni would struggle with the current lineup. The team’s struggles to adapt to conditions and select appropriate players must be addressed to improve future performances.

Original Source: www.sportingnews.com