Thaindian News

Islamabad, July 8 (ANI): Former Test cricketers have blamed poor team selection for Pakistan’s humiliating defeat against Sri Lanka in the first Test match at Galle.

Former fast bowler Sarfraz Nawaz and wicket keeper Moin Khan were furious over Pakistan’s incredible batting collapse, which resulted in a 50 run defeat in the first match of the three match Test series.

Nawaz criticized the team management for not including Abdul Razzaq, Danish Kaneria and Fawaz Alam in the team, even after their disciplined show in the practice match played ahead of the first Test.

“Where was Abdul Razzaq, where was Fawad Alam, where was Danish Kaneria?” The News quoted Nawaz, as saying.

Chasing a modest target of 168 runs for victory, the Pakistan middle order crumbled dramatically from 71 for two on the third day to 177 all out on the fourth day of the Test.

“It was unbelievable the way our batting collapsed. I was not expecting such a performance,” Nawaz added.

Besides criticizing captain Younis Khan for not playing Kaneria and Razzaq, he said Khan’s decision of coming out to bowl before lunch on the first day of the Test match surprised him.

“It shows that you haven’t done your homework and left out two of your key bowlers,” he said.

Blaming the poor team composition, Moin Khan said left-handed batsman Fawad Alam should have been included in the playing eleven.

“Alam scored 80 odd runs in the warm-up game, he’s an excellent fielder and a player who can also bowl left-arm spin, I fail to understand why he was left out,” Khan said. (ANI)