Procedure for Squad Selection Has to Change

[Saj]

Abdul Qadir, Iqbal Qasim and now Mohsin Khan have all had their "differences" with the "selection procedure" as it stands. Whilst all three Chief Selectors have all technically given different reasons for their dissatisfaction, it more or less boils down to the same thing - which is being overruled when it came to matters of selection.

The PCB can at best be described as an unorthodox organisation and the decision making process can at times seem a bit strange and long winded. However even by their standards, the procedure for selecting touring squads can best be described as bizarre.

Mohsin Khan's threat to resign from the role of Chief Selector was largely based on the fact that he and his co-selectors chose a squad of players for the test series in the Caribbean and submitted it to the Chairman for his approval and rubber stamping. Now between the selection committee submitting the names to the Chairman and the press release by the PCB, there had been three changes made to the squad, which is totally unacceptable.

Now my understanding is that if you are given a role by the Pakistan Cricket Board and your neck is on the line, then you have to be allowed to make decisions that will ultimately decide your fate and will result in how the media and fans perceive you. As Mohsin Khan is the Chief Selector, then he and his selection committee should be given full authority on selecting the players. If those players who the selection committee select, prove to be failures then its the player(s) and the selectors who should be held responsible.

However what is rather alarming is that the individual(s) who has changed the three names in the test squad will not be held responsible for those changes and indeed it will be the selection committee who will be held responsible, even though they did not select three of the individuals who will be part of the squad in the West Indies.

My take on this is very simple, the Chairman of the Cricket Board in Pakistan should have absolutely no say at all in selection matters. Does Ijaz Butt really know the cricketing strengths of an Adnan Akmal compared with Mohammad Salman, does Butt really know much about up and coming youngsters in Pakistan and who is worthy of a squad place......I seriously doubt it.

Butt should be completely left out of selection of any squad, whether that is a junior squad or a senior squad. Instead the full responsibility of signing off a squad has to go to the Chief Selector. If he is ultimately responsible for the selection of any squad, then he has to be held accountable for the performance of the players he has selected. This way there can be no finger pointing afterwards or individuals trying to take credit for squads that they have had no input into.

Whilst the removal of Ijaz Butt in the selection procedure is key, I also feel that the respective captain and coach have to have a vote in the make up of the squad. At the moment it's almost as if the opinions of the captain and coach are literally an afterthought. If it's a one day squad being selected, then Shahid Afridi's opinions have to be taken into account and he should also have a vote in which personnel get selected. Likewise if it's a test squad that is being selected, then Misbah ul Haq should also have the same powers as Afridi in the selection committee.

In summary when a squad is chosen, the selectors, captain and coach should be the individuals who choose the squad and if there are any disagreements then a voting system should be used with the Chief selector having the final say.

Stop this finger pointing and instead implement a procedure that encourages responsibility and accountability.

[saeed-sohail]

Who were the three changes Saj?

[sunnykhan]

Our coach is a mess himself!

[Amjid Javed]

Saj,

Send your recomendations to Ijaz Butt. Am sure he will read it and ignore it sadly!

[Cpt. Rishwat]

I agree with the thread in principle, but on an unrelated note I was quite pleased the selectors or team management decided to rest a few players and give the new guys a run, even though it cost us at least one game. At least we learned something about the players who came in and as the series was won it was no big deal.

[cricket_coach]

So it was I Butt allways calling Akmals family home as soon as there was a vacancy. How convenient?....

[srh]

I thought it was 2 changes not 3:

1) MHK selected Adnan Akmal instead of Mohammad Salman.
2) MHK selected Khurram Manzoor instead of Hammad Azam.

Saj, what was the 3rd change you are referring to?

[MR__KHAN__JI]

My comments are reflected below....

http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/sh...d.php?t=127673

[cricket_coach]

Saj,
PCB should be also responsible for creating better players and improving standards.

You cant create Miadad but you can create Sohail. You cant create waqar but you can create Gul. Concentrate on creating what you can create Anwars and Imran will automatically emerge.

For me, PCB sits above selection committee,above the team and players. Ultimate responsibility lies in there. So whatever the procedure they are the ones responsible. They are responsible to change the procedure as well. And media should put tough questions in case expected expectations arent met.

[MOHAMMED_Umar]

Why Don't you email Ijaz Butt, and ask him to change the Selection Procedure?

[Saj]

Originally Posted by MOHAMMED_Umar Why Don't you email Ijaz Butt, and ask him to change the Selection Procedure?

So basically tell the Chairman to reduce his own "stranglehold" on selection matters. I'm sure that would go down very well with him.

It shouldn't take anyone to contact Butt to realise what the situation is and what the problems are. He should be able to understand the issues himself.

[SIMBA]

Originally Posted by Saj So basically tell the Chairman to reduce his own "stranglehold" on selection matters. I'm sure that would go down very well with him. It shouldn't take anyone to contact Butt to realise what the situation is and what the problems are. He should be able to understand the issues himself.

I thing you are over estimating here

I thought Butt Saab was stepping down soon?? Zardari put all the old, deaf, blind in the Pcb and ppl wonder why our cricket set up is in a mess!

[zaid65]

Criteria for the team selection is simple, select the players ( especially keeper) who could be on board with Eijaz Butt ( Rehman Malik).

[Thees_Mar_Khan]

Originally Posted by Saj So basically tell the Chairman to reduce his own "stranglehold" on selection matters. I'm sure that would go down very well with him.It shouldn't take anyone to contact Butt to realise what the situation is and what the problems are. He should be able to understand the issues himself.

Saj Bhai - Truth should be told even if it taste bitter

[Saj]

Originally Posted by Thees_Mar_Khan Saj Bhai - Truth should be told even if it taste bitter

Well yes agree, but only to those individuals who are prepared to take on board the suggestion.

If I sent Butt saheb my suggestion, he would immediately send out a press release about me and send me a showcause notice

[farz88]

Originally Posted by Saj Well yes agree, but only to those individuals who are prepared to take on board the suggestion. If I sent Butt saheb my suggestion, he would immediately send out a press release about me and send me a showcause notice

Well then you can show cause that he is an idiot.