Lahore, January 24: PCB chairman Ijaz Butt’s declaration in the middle of Pakistan’s tour of Australia that Mohammad Yousuf will have to step down from captaincy has drew a lot of flak from former skippers who believe the announcement will make the matters worse for the struggling tourists.
Butt had earlier announced that Yousuf will be replaced as captain of Pakistan after the ongoing tour of Australia.
Former captains have questioned the timing of the announcement and claimed that the declaration will affect the morale of the visitors.
”Why announce this in the middle of the Australia tour? What”s the urgency? former captain Aamer Sohail asked.
Inzamam-ul-Haq agreed that such an announcement will cause more confusion within the team, after Younis Khan quit the captaincy ahead of the Australian tour. ”Even if the board thought that Yousuf is not good enough to captain the team, they should have waited till their return.
”Ever since the team had gone to New Zealand and Australia, there is total chaos and lack of communication between the team management, selectors and board. This is another example of that lack of communication, which will only contribute to the team’s poor show,” Inzamam was quoted as saying by The News. Former Pakistan wicketkeeper Moin Khan said though Yousuf exposed his own shortcomings as captain during the tour, he did not deserve to be put under so much pressure by the PCB by way of this announcement.
”He accepted the captaincy at a time when no one was willing to do it and he has given his best, but the same is also true that he lacked the aggression required in Australia to win matches.
”But this does not mean that the board should announce that they will change the captain after the Australian tour. It will leave the team further disjointed and dispirited,” he added.
——–Agencies