Pakistan’s shocking defeat in the Sydney Test against Australia has the entire nation seething in anger with former players demanding the sacking of captain Mohammad Yousuf, coach Intikhab Alam and even cricket board chief Ejaz Butt.
The aftermath of the 36-run defeat could be sensed from the fact that it also prompted a statement from the Presidential spokesman who appealed for calm and patience from everyone.
The appeal, however, did little to placate the anger of former players like Inzamam-ul Haq and Aamer Sohail. Even the administrators could not digest the defeat.
Former Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Nasim Ashraf felt it was embarrassing to lose a match after dominating for the first three days and said Yousuf should be stripped of captaincy.
“What happened in the Test was so embarrassing. It made a complete mockery of Pakistan cricket and the entire team management. The captain should be fired for it,” Ashraf said.
Also training the guns on the coach, Ashraf said, “If Yousuf was not right in his cricketing decisions there was also the team management led by coach, Intikhab Alam which could have guided him into changing his strategy.”
Yousuf and Alam to be blamed
Ex-captain Moin Khan held a similar view and felt both Yousuf and Alam were to be blamed for the debacle.
“I don’t know what happened but I think even if Yousuf was not thinking right and his strategy was wrong after the first half an hour, the support staff including coach Intikhab Alam should have sent out a message asking him to change his strategy,” Khan said.
‘Sack the entire team management’
Former pacer Sarfraz Nawaz also lashed out at the senior members of the side and demanded axing of the entire team management.
“I think the selectors now need to give more opportunities to younger players so that we can move ahead.
This management needs to be sacked as they are unable to provide proper support to the players,” he said.
Former leg-spinner Abdul Qadir, who headed the selection committee until last year, suggested PCB chairman Ejaz Butt and the selectors should also quit, owning up the moral responsibility.
“Had I been the board’s Chairman or chief selector, I would have resigned from my post after such a pathetic performance by the national team,” Qadir said.
It was a strange performance by the Pakistani team which bowled out Australia for just 127 runs and took a 206-run first innings lead.
Thanks to Yousuf’s defensive tactics, Australia managed 381 in their second essay and chasing 176 for a victory, Pakistan imploded for 139 to slump to a morale-shattering defeat.
