Jalal slams Pakistan A selection

KARACHI: Former Test fast bowler Jalaluddin on Monday slammed the selection of Pakistan’s A squad for the tour of Sri Lanka.
The team’s selection had raised many eye brows with experts and former cricketers expressing surprise that players who have failed to prove their worth with the senior team at the international level are included in the side instead of being sent to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) for removal of their technical faults.
Jalal said that exposure should have been given to those cricketers who are knocking at the door of the senior team.
“The objective of selecting the Pakistan A team should be to explore the upcoming talent. So that chances at the international level could be given to those cricketers who play well and show maturity,” he said.
“What will be the benefit of selecting Khurram Manzoor, Umar Amin and Adnan Akmal in Pakistan A team?” Jalal questioned.
“When it was a proven fact that these players have not been successful at international level despite getting several chances then these cricketers should have been sent to the NCA so that technical faults and weakness could be addressed.”
However, he welcomed the selection of experienced all-rounder Fawad Alam and termed his inclusion a good step considering the squad consists of several young cricketers.
Jalal made it clear that he is not against any player but is only against the wrong decisions taken by the newly-appointed selection committee.
He also questioned why SSGC batsman Naeemuddin was not included in the Pakistan A squad despite scoring a lot of runs in the current domestic season.
“Why was the most successful batsman of the seasons not included and players who are already tested were preferred over him.”
He said that there should be coordination between the selection committee members and coaches about the need and requirements of Pakistan cricket.