Lahore, Jan 25: Former Pakistan cricket captain Inzamamul Haq has slammed the Pakistan Cricket Board for creating factions within the national side by delaying the naming of a captain for next month's World Cup.
Inzamam, who played 120 Test matches for Pakistan scoring 25 centuries, said the delay had disrupted the team's preparations for the showpiece event and stoked divisions among the squad.
"With only three weeks left to the World Cup, Pakistan have no captain and the blame goes to the PCB for creating an impasse which has divided the team into two groups, supporting [Shahid] Afridi and Misbah [ul Haq] ," the Daily Times quoted Inzamam, as saying in an interview.
"In this scenario one cannot have high expectations for the team," he added.
The former captain was of the view that not knowing the captain for the forthcoming World Cup would be "very damaging" for the Pakistan ODI squad.
"When a team is without a captain how can a proper strategy be made? The team is playing a one-day series in New Zealand but they do not know who will be their captain in the World Cup, which is very damaging," said Inzamam, who was part of the World Cup-winning Pakistan squad in 1992.
Pakistan is the only team out of 14 competing nations to have failed to name a captain for the tournament, which starts from February 19 to April 2.
"I am surprised, why does it always happen to Pakistan?" questioned Inzamam.
Inzamam also accused the PCB of selecting the final 15-member World Cup squad without consulting incumbent one-day captain Shahid Afridi or coach Waqar Younis, and said players would be made scapegoats if Pakistan failed to perform in the mega event.
"The PCB has failed to control the situation, and if Pakistan fares badly in the World Cup, people will accuse the players and not the board," he rued.
"So if the team loses, the captain and coach will say that it was not their team and was selected without their consent. And they will rightly not accept responsibility for a poor showing," he said.
Pakistan start their World Cup campaign with a match against Kenya at the Sri Lankan resort of Hambantota on February 23. (ANI)
Similar
- Pak runaway keeper Zulqarnain’s intention to sue PCB futile, says legal advisor
- Michel has not refused to coach Pak hockey team despite security concerns: Asif Bajwa
- PCB issues notice to Waqar Younis for violating board’s new media policy
- Pakistan names World Cup squad minus Yousuf, mystery prevails over skipper
- Pak chief selector refutes allegations of bookie’s presence in team hotel
US News
- Sun Pharma Gets FDA Nod To Sell Nasal Spray Astelin In US Market
- Bharti Airtel Gets Hold Of 49% Stake In Qualcomm India broadband
- Facebook IPO issue must be reviewed, says U.S. financial regulators
- Brooklyn to investigate witness intimidation in abuse cases
- Sun Pharma, Dr Reddy's & Aurobindo Get USFDA Authorization To Market Generic Cardiac Drug
Rome, May 28 : The captain of the Italian football club Lazio has been arrested amid investigations in connection to match-fixing scandal. 
London, May 28 : Manchester City skipper Vincent Kompany has expressed his hope of making an impact at the Saturday's England v/s Belgium friendly, after not being slotted in for the Euro 2012 squad. 
London, May 28 : Former England cricketer Adam Hollioake has revealed that his friends and family were surprised when he chose the gentleman's game over rugby and boxing as his profession. 
Islamabad, May 28 : Pakistan cricketer Wajahatullah Wasti has said the Twenty20 format has caused a lot of damage to the techniques of opening batsmen. 
Sydney, May 18 : Australian professional motorcycle racer, two-time MotoGP world champion, Casey Stoner, announced that he will retire from Grand Prix racing at the 
Pune, April 30 - Veer Patel of Baroda steered his Honda CRF 250 with much panache to clinch the title in the showpiece Foreign Open class ahead of defending champion Aravind KP in the 2012 National Supercross championship here.