Pakistan was eliminated from the Champions Trophy without a win, marking their third consecutive first-round exit. Former captain Sana Mir criticized team selection, stating that the squad was unsuitable regardless of the coaching. She pointed to poor choices, particularly regarding spinners, and emphasized the need for a better selection strategy based on conditions.
Pakistan has been eliminated from the Champions Trophy after failing to secure any victories, marking their third consecutive early exit from an ICC tournament in recent years. The team’s poor performance included a significant defeat against New Zealand, a loss to India, and a final group match against Bangladesh that was washed out due to rain.
Former Pakistan captain Sana Mir has attributed this disappointing outcome to inadequate team selection. In her review of the tournament on Tapmad, she reflected on a text exchange during the India-Pakistan match, expressing her belief that the team’s fate was sealed with the announcement of the 15-man squad. “You can give this squad to MS Dhoni or Younis Khan and nobody would do anything with them,” she stated.
Mir criticized the decision to include only two part-time spinners in the squad, pointing out that one of them is still inexperienced in ODI cricket. She highlighted that these spinners collectively secured only two wickets in the last five months, averaging 165 runs per wicket.
Moreover, she emphasized that Pakistan had previously succeeded on Australian and South African soil by effectively taking wickets in the middle overs. Mir lamented the team’s failure to select players suited for the prevailing conditions in the tournament, raising concerns about the selection criteria used.
In conclusion, Pakistan’s exit from the Champions Trophy has sparked considerable analysis regarding the team’s composition and strategic decisions. The former captain Sana Mir’s insights underscore the need for more thoughtful selection processes to align players with the specific challenges of different formats and playing conditions.
In summary, Pakistan’s failure to progress in the Champions Trophy has been linked to poor team selection, as articulated by Sana Mir. Her critiques highlight the fundamental errors in player choices, which hindered the team’s performance in crucial matches. The situation calls for a reevaluation of selection strategies to better adapt to varying conditions and improve future outcomes.
Original Source: www.sportingnews.com
