Islamabad, Nov 15: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) president Gen Taquir Zia has come out in support of chief selector Aamir Sohail in the row over naming of probables for the one-day series against New Zealand. A row between coach Javed Miandad and Sohail triggered off on Friday when Sohail announced a pool of 22 players for the five-match one-day series without consulting either captain Inzamam-ul Haq or the coach.
"Aamir is an aggressive man and a straightforward person and as chief selector his job is to select 16 probables and the final selection is the task of the captain," Zia told reporters in Lahore last night even as he asked the three to refrain themselves from speaking in public.
Zia also praised Sohail for his good work in the rebuilding process of the team.
"Aamir has been given time till February to complete this process and let him do his job. If the chief selector runs after captain, coach, PCB chief executive and chairman for their views about selection, it would be a long and cumbersome procedure," he said in an indirect swipe at Miandad.
Zia said he had advised Sohail to include former skipper Moin Khan in the list of probables when he heard about the team management being unhappy with Kamran Akmal's inclusion.
The PCB chief also said the cricket Australia has offered to take part in a tri-nation series in England prior to ICC Champions Trophy next year to compensate for the losses suffered by the PCB. The Aussies played their last series against Pakistan at neutral venues owing to security concerns.
Bureau Report