Mohsin Khan "My policy will be to give youth a proper chance"

[Genghis]

When Mohsin Khan became Pakistan’s third Chief Selector in less than a year, his first challenging task was to form a squad for the reigning champions in the upcoming 2010 T20 World Cup. With the controversies and suspensions that followed it made his task all the harder. However speaking exclusively to PakPassion.net he was quietly confident that the selectors had chosen "the best squad under the consequences" and that Pakistan "would do very well in the T20 World Cup".

Mohsin Khan having also served previously as a board regional director under Nasim Ashraf, spoke about the difficulty in selecting the squad. "Selecting the T20 World Cup Squad was not easy after the disciplinary action taken by the board. We obviously had to select the squad without certain players who were not available." The suspensions and fines were as a result of the disastrous tour of Australia in which Pakistan failed to win a solitary game in any format.

A captain is generally one of the first picked in any touring squad or major tournament, but the uncertainty over the disciplinary action on players meant Mohsin had to go against convention. "I asked the PCB chairman if we were to wait until the captain was announced but I was informed that we should go ahead and select the squad before the captain was announced" he stated. Hence "the captain and coach had no input in the T20 World Cup squad."

Mohsin who himself was an accomplished opener for Pakistan with 7 test centuries including a memorable double century at Lords, spoke of the need of having a specialised opener in the squad such as Salman Butt. "Butt was selected because I feel that even in T20 cricket a team needs a proper and solid opener. You have to build an innings and not to start smashing the ball right from the start." On the other hand, the selection committee decided that Imran Nazir and Imran Farhat had "one too many failures with the bat and it was time for a change." However Mohsin added that the door still remains open for them and others who have missed out. “No players are out of our plans for good, if they perform well they will be considered for selection in future."

Misbah Ul Haq who used the 2007 T20 World Cup to relaunch his then diminishing career is one such player making yet another comeback. Mohsin remarked that Misbah was selected as they “were looking for a solid middle order player, someone to hold the innings together." Misbah has continued to perform well in domestic cricket and the selectors are hopeful he can bring that form onto the international stage.

When queried as to whom from the current crop of young Pakistani cricketers have impressed him most, Mohsin preferred not to name names. "It would be wrong for me to single out individuals, but I feel that we have a bright future with some very promising youngsters." In the recent past, youngsters have found it hard to break into the first team with the preference on seniority, however Mohsin was hoping to change that. "I want to give youngsters a chance and these youngsters will be given their opportunities in the near future, starting from the tour of England. My selection committee have already shown that we have faith in our youngsters, by selecting Hammad Azam for the Twenty/20 World Cup". While many critics will feel the selectors hand are now being forced to select youth after the bans handed out to senior players such as Younis and Yousuf, Mohsin was quick to revoke. "It’s not just because we have 'lost' some senior players due to punishments, I want to mix the team up with youngsters and established players. I'd like to see four or five youngsters in the team. My policy will be to give youth a proper chance."

[kingusama92]

Stunning logic in regards to selecting Salman Butt. How can one justify changing something that worked last time around? We had Shahzaib Hasan and Kamran Akmal opening the batting in last year's world cup and it seemed to work out quite well didn't it?

Questionable selection - justified by atrocious reasoning.

All of the other things he said were fine. Although it will be important that he actually follows up these comments with actually doing what he is claiming he will do. We have all seen those that talk big but then do nothing.

[Desi]

Yeah my sentiments are like the above post too. Aside from the SB and Misbah topics, I hope he can walk the talk, because the talk is encouraging.

[mon858]

"Butt was selected because I feel that even in T20 cricket a team needs a proper and solid opener. You have to build an innings and not to start smashing the ball right from the start." On the other hand, the selection committee decided that Imran Nazir and Imran Farhat had "one too many failures with the bat and it was time for a change."

The sad part is the backups he had in mind...no mention of Shahzaib / ahmed shahzad at all.... poor guys- part of winning world cup squad but no longer in picture of selector... maybe they're still in his mind but just didn't mention.

[AZ]

Originally Posted by kingusama92 Stunning logic in regards to selecting Salman Butt. How can one justify changing something that worked last time around? We had Shahzaib Hasan and Kamran Akmal opening the batting in last year's world cup and it seemed to work out quite well didn't it? Questionable selection - justified by atrocious reasoning. All of the other things he said were fine. Although it will be important that he actually follows up these comments with actually doing what he is claiming he will do. We have all seen those that talk big but then do nothing.

nothing stunning about it, it does make sense to have one bloke who plays through while the other one goes hell for leather...the questionable aspect is the personnel chosen for that role...if they want SB to be the run-a-ball bloke, then who's the hitter? Kamran? Hafeez?

[kingusama92]

Originally Posted by Ahmed Zulfiqar nothing stunning about it, it does make sense to have one bloke who plays through while the other one goes hell for leather...the questionable aspect is the personnel chosen for that role...if they want SB to be the run-a-ball bloke, then who's the hitter? Kamran? Hafeez?

There is no justification for it. I understand where you are coming from. In fact I would have agreed with you if we hadn't already won the world cup. The fact that we won the world cup and our openers did quite well in almost all of the matches shows us that there was no need to change things up.

Salman Butt is not someone who can be brought in and expected to "play through". How many times has he done that in his career thus far to justify that as a reason? If you are going to get someone who can "play through" then you need someone who has done it in the past - effectively.

[AZ]

Originally Posted by kingusama92 There is no justification for it. I understand where you are coming from. In fact I would have agreed with you if we hadn't already won the world cup. The fact that we won the world cup and our openers did quite well in almost all of the matches shows us that there was no need to change things up. Salman Butt is not someone who can be brought in and expected to "play through". How many times has he done that in his career thus far to justify that as a reason? If you are going to get someone who can "play through" then you need someone who has done it in the past - effectively.

our openers certainly did not do well in all of the matches, they did well in the important matches...IIRC Shahzaib himself had a couple of failures last time round...I guess it depends on what the planning is for this WC tourney, perhaps they are thinking about the lack of experience in the MO, that is why they are going for a more cautious approach...not saying that I agree with it, but I can see where MHK is coming from.

[kingusama92]

Originally Posted by Ahmed Zulfiqar our openers certainly did not do well in all of the matches, they did well in the important matches...IIRC Shahzaib himself had a couple of failures last time round...I guess it depends on what the planning is for this WC tourney, perhaps they are thinking about the lack of experience in the MO, that is why they are going for a more cautious approach...not saying that I agree with it, but I can see where MHK is coming from.

Lack of middle order experience is a problem but surely that does not justify Butt's selection. We are talking about a format in which Butt does not to well in. His experience means zilch as he has failed on too many occasions when provided a chance.

I agree that they are going with a more cautious approach. Just does not look like it will lead to the desired result.

[Afridi_Fan]

His policy has given "The Young Salman Butt" a proper chance in T20.

Good start.

[crick786]

apart from Salman Butts contributions with the bat , we might discuss his fielding, which is another sorry story.

[Afridi_Fan]

Originally Posted by crick786 apart from Salman Butts contributions with the bat , we might discuss his fielding, which is another sorry story.

May I add run-outs too?

[Prince of Pakistan]

What about Khalid Latif then? He isn't the fastest scorer around, he is also someone who needs time to settle down and thus he fulfils that role that Mohsin wants to give to Butt. Salman Butt selection makes no sense at all.

[Genghis]

Originally Posted by Prince of Pakistan What about Khalid Latif then? He isn't the fastest scorer around, he is also someone who needs time to settle down and thus he fulfils that role that Mohsin wants to give to Butt. Salman Butt selection makes no sense at all.

Good point actually. Maybe we should be asking why Khalid Latif got picked rather than concentrating so much on why Salman Butt made it into the squad. The fact Salman Butt made it into the squad has somewhat diverted the attention off Khalid Latif and Misbah.

[Afridi_Fan]

Well Misbah got into the squad because Malik got banned. That is the only logical reason at least I can find.

And yes Lateef and Butt are disgrace to T20 squad, I really hope both of them sit out.

[Amjid Javed]

Weve heard all these falses promises before from selectors so how are things going to be any different?

[pakmania]

This man just makes your blood boil.

[volcyz]

Butt, Latif and Misbah's seclections are most sifarishly appalling

[Prince of Pakistan]

It's a "waste" of space having so many specialist openers for a T20 tournament! The funny part has always been that our unorthodox openers or make-shift openers always have had to do this job. Still we don't learn !

[Juggernaut]

Originally Posted by genghis81 Good point actually. Maybe we should be asking why Khalid Latif got picked rather than concentrating so much on why Salman Butt made it into the squad. The fact Salman Butt made it into the squad has somewhat diverted the attention off Khalid Latif and Misbah.

To be honest I don't understand what the big fuss is about when it comes to Khalid Latif's selection?

He should be suited to this version of the game. Fair enough he has zero footwork and a highly questionable technique but this is T20 we're talking about not test cricket.

I didn't really have the time to follow the domestic T20 tourney but isn't Shahzaib the only guy to be really hard done by. Personally I'm not happy to see Misbah or Salman Butt in the squad. I'm curious to know though what other alternatives we had?

[Saj]

I dont agree with this solid opener and solid middle order talk.

Its only 20 overs and a team should launch their attack from ball one. At the end of the day you have 10 wickets in hand which should be more than enough for this sort of cricket.

[Omar Malik]

All Mohsin Khan is saying is that he is mixing up T20 cricket with Test cricket! Solid opener and solid middle order talk!

[IM NOT YOU]

Originally Posted by Saj I dont agree with this solid opener and solid middle order talk. Its only 20 overs and a team should launch their attack from ball one. At the end of the day you have 10 wickets in hand which should be more than enough for this sort of cricket.

^ this




mohsin is clueless here. the proper technique in t20 is to go hard from ball 1 and take advantage of the 6 power play overs, thereby giving a platform of runs even if wickets are lost. the middle order is where they should be playing more sensibly, after starting something like 60/3 after 6 overs, taking it to like 110 or so after 15 overs.

^ THAT is the proper strategy. not playing slow from the start.

[Paradox]

Totally agree with Saj. You have 20 overs in hand, and 10 wickets. That means you can afford to lose a wicket every 2 overs. I'd rather go full blast from ball one and still lose a wicket every 2 overs, but end on a good total of 180 all out in 20 overs rather than open with Butt and Latif, with Misbah in the middle order (and these players are all apparently 'solid' players who hold the innings together) and end with a total of something like 105/3 in 20 overs.

[kkmix]

Originally Posted by Paradox Totally agree with Saj. You have 20 overs in hand, and 10 wickets. That means you can afford to lose a wicket every 2 overs. I'd rather go full blast from ball one and still lose a wicket every 2 overs, but end on a good total of 180 all out in 20 overs rather than open with Butt and Latif, with Misbah in the middle order (and these players are all apparently 'solid' players who hold the innings together) and end with a total of something like 105/3 in 20 overs.

10 wickets but how many batsmen??? 7 or 8 max...so thats 15 balls per batsmen...i dont think imran nazir, farhat or shahzaib are capable of staying for 15 balls...i'd rather have salman butt to set the platform for the afridis and razzaq to come.

[IM NOT YOU]

Originally Posted by kkmix 10 wickets but how many batsmen??? 7 or 8 max...so thats 15 balls per batsmen...i dont think imran nazir, farhat or shahzaib are capable of staying for 15 balls...i'd rather have salman butt to set the platform for the afridis and razzaq to come.

nobody is capable of staying at the crease for 15 deliveries because salman butt always runs the other opener out before that.

shortly thereafter, he goes off stump fishing and edges it to first slip.
AT LEAST the other openers dont waste deliveries and give another batsman a chance to propel the score without being 8 overs in the hole at a run rate of 6 in a t20.



insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. (albert einstein quote)


if you did not learn anything from watching salman butt last t20 world cup, then you can not be guided.

[*sallu*]

I think rather than giving youth a proper chance, emphasis should be on giving the deserving players a proper chance irrespective of age

[BoomBoomCricket]

Originally Posted by Saj I dont agree with this solid opener and solid middle order talk. Its only 20 overs and a team should launch their attack from ball one. At the end of the day you have 10 wickets in hand which should be more than enough for this sort of cricket.

Totally agree with you Saj bhai. There is absolutely no justification for Salman's selection in this format regardless.

[AZ]

Originally Posted by BoomBoomCricket Totally agree with you Saj bhai. There is absolutely no justification for Salman's selection in this format regardless.

in this year's RBS T20, he scored an aggregate of 112 runs in 78 deliveries, equating to a S/R of 143.6

[pakmania]

Originally Posted by Ahmed Zulfiqar in this year's RBS T20, he scored an aggregate of 112 runs in 78 deliveries, equating to a S/R of 143.6

You cant really count Karachi's flat paranthas though.

[Juggernaut]

Originally Posted by pakmania You cant really count Karachi's flat paranthas though.

You have to take what you get when you're a Salman Butt fan.

[AZ]

Originally Posted by pakmania You cant really count Karachi's flat paranthas though.

Originally Posted by Juggernaut You have to take what you get when you're a Salman Butt fan.

great, then let's discard Shahzaib, Khalid and Hafeez as well then...we should send Nazir, Farhat and Faisal instead.

[pakmania]

Shahzaib aka Dashkara ? Even he managed to score some runs at a quick rate on the world stage on relatively balanced wickets,no paranthas unlike Butt who barely crawled out of Lords and the entire tournament alive last year.

[Juggernaut]

Originally Posted by Ahmed Zulfiqar great, then let's discard Shahzaib, Khalid and Hafeez as well then...we should send Nazir, Farhat and Faisal instead.

The humour is lost on you.

[AZ]

trust me, it isn't...sometimes it just isn't that amusing.

[Juggernaut]

Originally Posted by Ahmed Zulfiqar trust me, it isn't...sometimes it just isn't that amusing.

Not to you it isn't. You've got Salman Butt to defend.

[Zaz]

Id like it if deserving players got a go for once as well rather than giving preference to youngsters all time

[AZ]

Originally Posted by Juggernaut Not to you it isn't. You've got Salman Butt to defend.

I'm a fan, but not a blind fan...there is a clear and significant difference.

[saeed-sohail]

Butt is coming under harsh criticism.He has been more then useful member of the side over the years.Don't forget it was butt who had the historic honour of being a pull(bridge) of communication between G W bush and the great Inzi.

[pakmania]

Originally Posted by genghis81 Good point actually. Maybe we should be asking why Khalid Latif got picked rather than concentrating so much on why Salman Butt made it into the squad. The fact Salman Butt made it into the squad has somewhat diverted the attention off Khalid Latif and Misbah.

Misbah is there for the experienced senior role.
K Latif is quite an aggressive cricketer,done okay in domestic cricket and the slow,flat WI pitches would suit him.

[CrIcKet_is_LiFe]

Which players is he talking about??? or is it just about ANY Youth PLayers?? I dont feel that this is the time to experiment. Theres is the WorldCup @ the door next year...... I hope they dont mess while chkingout new Young players-....

[Saj]

Lets hope that Mohsin is given the "room" to select the players that he feels are the right choices, rather than being pushed from above and made to select players that he is made to select.

Nice guy is Mohsin. Very approachable and friendly.

Mohsin saheb, if you are reading this. I don't buy the "I am a simple man" line that you always give me

[Saj]

Mohsin Khan "My policy will be to give youth a proper chance"

30 year old Rehman over the young left arm spinner Raza Hasan !

I have to wonder whether Mohsin was just told that Rehman is going to be selected or whether he had any say in the matter?

[*sallu*]

Originally Posted by Saj 30 year old Rehman over the young left arm spinner Raza Hasan ! I have to wonder whether Mohsin was just told that Rehman is going to be selected or whether he had any say in the matter?

The fact that Mohsin, Afridi and Waqar announced Irfan and replaced him with Abdur Rehman answers your questions

there is only one coach, captain and selector in Pakistan right now.
Any guesses?

[AZ]

the Pinnocchio to Ejaz Butt's Gepetto

[khalil1986]

I don't think you can blame Mohsin

[Inswinger]

Originally Posted by *sallu* The fact that Mohsin, Afridi and Waqar announced Irfan and replaced him with Abdur Rehman answers your questions there is only one coach, captain and selector in Pakistan right now. Any guesses?

I agree. We can't blame Mohsin for this one.

[AZ]

you can, because he is making the big bucks for being a kattputtli...if you have self-respect then you would resign from your post!

[Inswinger]

Originally Posted by Ahmed Zulfiqar you can, because he is making the big bucks for being a kattputtli...if you have self-respect then you would resign from your post!

That would be a fickle decision. Hopefully he can outlast Butt and give us a few players.

[AZ]

dude nobody can outlast Butt! the guy is already 168 years old for crying out loud!

[*sallu*]

Originally Posted by Ahmed Zulfiqar you can, because he is making the big bucks for being a kattputtli...if you have self-respect then you would resign from your post!

Well, he himself announced Irfan's name in the press conference
But at the end of the day, rules are rules, you can't expect Mohsin to become some rebel.

Its the law (a wrong one, but nonetheless a law) that the Chairman has the final say, now thats just not in Mohsin's handd

[AZ]

Ejaz Butt himself said in a TV interview that he has no say in selection matters, it is a fact that the Chairman is not supposed to have any say in the matter...if that has been compromised then there is absolutely no room for argument, either you stick to your guns or you resign from your post.

[Sledger]

Nice to see him give that spring chicken Abdul Rehman a go then, ah well at least he's held onto his other claim of not being a 'dummy selector'..

[Saj]

Well sooner rather than later we'll see if youth was given a chance.

But to be fair to him, he has brought in Asad Shafiq and Umar Amin.

[saeed-sohail]

And butt proved to be an inspired selection.

[adnan yasin]

first part is selecting younger talent , that is accomplished .. now the 2nd part is to give them proper chance ...

now they need to give them proper chances in playing 11.... so is still the same policy ... in home series selectors will also have a say in selecting 11? or its changed?

[AZ]

he has certainly selected a much more positive squad this time round, have to appreciate that, he fulfilled his role...now lets hope the mgmt. gives the lads a game.

[Wised up]

He selected three youngsters and dropped two w/out giving them the "proper chance". Lets see how it goes in future...

[Gollum]

Mohsin Khan missed his mark this time around. Lets hope he and other selectors 'get it right' for the England tour.