LAHORE, Dec 20: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is not going to make changes in the squad despite its poor showing in Australia. "Our batsmen disappointed while bowlers' performance was not so bad but we (PCB) will not make any decision in haste to fire anyone," PCB chairman Shaharyar M Khan told journalists on Monday.

Pakistan lost the first Test by a humiliating margin of 491 runs at Perth last Sunday, the fourth highest in cricket history, and country's worst-ever loss. He said that the bowlers had restricted the Australians in the first innings to a reasonable total but the batsmen allowed the rivals to dictate position by throwing wickets cheaply.

"People will wish the board take immediate decision but we have to consider all aspects," the chairman said. He admitted that Inzamamul Haq lacked leadership abilities but the team was united under his captaincy.

"There is no issue of captaincy and boys are playing happily under the leadership of Inzamam," he said. He said that ups and downs were part of any game but the board had to determine if the players had any psychological problems.

"It seems they were perplexed and could not apply the footwork rightly," he observed. The chairman also expressed disappointment over the war of words between the former Pakistan coach Javed Miandad and Bob Woolmer over team's performance.

"I advise them to close the chapter as it is not benefiting Pakistan at this stage," he said. Both Woolmer and Miandad issued press statements last week. Meanwhile, the chairman said that the schedule of Pakistan's tour of India next year would now be finalised after Jan 3. The Pakistan team is to tour India in March-April.

Opinion

Budgeting without people

Budgeting without people

Even though the economy is a critical issue, discussions about it involve a select few who are not really interested in communicating with the people.

Editorial

Iranian tragedy
Updated 21 May, 2024

Iranian tragedy

Due to Iran’s regional and geopolitical influence, the world will be watching the power transition carefully.
Circular debt woes
21 May, 2024

Circular debt woes

THE alleged corruption and ineptitude of the country’s power bureaucracy is proving very costly. New official data...
Reproductive health
21 May, 2024

Reproductive health

IT is naïve to imagine that reproductive healthcare counts in Pakistan, where women from low-income groups and ...
Wheat price crash
Updated 20 May, 2024

Wheat price crash

What the government has done to Punjab’s smallholder wheat growers by staying out of the market amid crashing prices is deplorable.
Afghan corruption
20 May, 2024

Afghan corruption

AMONGST the reasons that the Afghan Taliban marched into Kabul in August 2021 without any resistance to speak of ...
Volleyball triumph
20 May, 2024

Volleyball triumph

IN the last week, while Pakistan’s cricket team savoured a come-from-behind T20 series victory against Ireland,...