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Former Pakistan players criticize team after loss

ISLAMABAD — Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja wants his cricket board to opt for youth in the wake of the country’s five-wicket loss to New Zealand in the Champions Trophy semifinals.

Despite losing several top players due to injury during the tournament, the Kiwis won Saturday to advance to Monday’s final against defending champion Australia.

Pakistan’s experienced batsmen struggled on the seaming wickets in South Africa, only once makimg more than 300 runs — against archrival India — and Raja wants to see changes.

‘I think it’s high time that we should start looking for young batsmen who could play for 10 years,’ Raja told The Associated Press on Sunday. ‘The only silver lining was that we found a young batsman in Umar Akmal, and we should look for more such batsmen.

‘We should immediately start grooming these youngsters and give them chance in the senior team.’

Umar, younger brother of Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran, led Pakistan to victory in its opening match against West Indies with a gritty, unbeaten innings of 41. At the time, Raja criticized the senior batsmen and wanted them gone from one-day cricket.

The 19-year-old Umar was again top scorer for Pakistan on Saturday with 55. He was out leg before wicket despite television replays showing that the ball had deflected off his bat.

‘Umar showed what a youngster could do in international cricket, provided he be given a proper chance,’ Raja said.

Pakistan captain Younis Khan broke his finger during the warm-up game before the tournament started and dropped Grant Elliott on 42. That proved costly as he went on to make an unbeaten 75.

Khan struggled with the bat due to injury, scoring only 53 runs in three games, while vice captain Shahid Afridi made 40 in four.

Mohammad Yousuf (200) and Shoaib Malik (180) were the top scorers for Pakistan after their double century stand against India. Another experienced batsman, Misbah-ul-Haq, also looked out of form in two matches in totaling 47.

Khan quit twenty20 cricket after Pakistan won the World Cup at England in June. After the Champions Trophy exit, former test paceman Sarfraz Nawaz wants the captain to concentrate on playing tests.

‘I think he should quit 50-over game, too,’ Nawaz said. ‘It’s just because of him that the batting combination is not clicking.’

Nawaz was not happy Khan played with a broken finger.

‘How can you bat with a broken finger in an international tournament?’ Nawaz said. ‘It was not a club tournament. It was an event in which the world’s top eight countries participated.’

Nawaz also criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board for sending managers Yawar Saeed and assistant Shafqat Rana.

‘What’s the need of sending two managers when one is sufficient,’ Nawaz said. ‘The PCB should have sent a bowling coach in place of an assistant manager who could help out our bowlers in curtailing their no-balls.’