Qasim delighted over ODI series win, willing to accept chief selector's role again

LAHORE: Former chief selector Iqbal Qasim is delighted over ODI series victory of the team he selected before his resignation for the tour of the West Indies. Talking to Dawn on Thursday, the ex-chief selector also disclosed that he may accept once again to be chief selector in the larger national interest if the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chooses to offer him the post. The PCB is faced with a chaotic situation in the wake of the Islamabad High Court’s decision curtailing powers of the PCB chief Najam Sethi. Talking about Pakistan victory in the just-ended ODI series against the West Indies, Iqbal gave credit to all players, saying that it was a team effort. “It was a team effort in which our bowlers and batsmen made contributions, though many batsmen lacked consistency but on crucial stages they delivered,” maintained Iqbal. “I am expecting the same kind of performance from the national team in the upcoming T20 series against the West Indies,” he further said. Iqbal after announcing ODI and T20 teams for the ongoing West Indies series tendered his resignation from the post of chief selector which was accepted by the PCB caretaker chairman. Though the caretaker chairman appointed Moin Khan as successor of Iqbal, the Islamabad High Court stopped him from taking major decision as caretaker chairman including making appointment in the board as a result of which the post of chief selector lies vacant. Asked if he would accept the same post as his successor Moin was not allowed to start working following court order, Iqbal said: “I have learnt through media that the PCB has appealed against judgement of the Islamabad High Court and if the appeal is not accepted, I may accept the post to pull the PCB out of the crisis.” When asked to comment on performance of Umar Akmal, who was inducted into the team by Iqbal as wicket-keeper/batsman but received criticism, the former left-arm spinner said: “Umar is in the making, and I will call his performance against the West Indies as more than satisfactory”. “Umar performed well, though he faltered on some occasions and dropped some catches, but any wicket-keeper could have done that sort of mistakes and now it is time to encourage him to settle down in that role,” he said. “I haven’t claimed that Umar is equal to A.B. de Villiers or M.S. Dhoni, but he is still in the making,” he further said. Iqbal, who gave another chance to Shahid Afridi in West Indies series, called the flamboyant all-rounder a ‘useful commodity.’ “I have a firm belief in Afridi and the way he helped the team win the first ODI and then his short stay at the wicket at a crucial stage in the last ODI make the all-rounder a useful commodity for the team,” the former chief selector maintained. He was all praise for Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq and said that Pakistan batting was revolving around him and if he maintained his performance he could continue his role even until the 2015 World Cup. “Misbah’s critics have no solid point against him and until Haris Sohail, Asad Shafiq and other newcomers don’t perform in the middle-order, the captain has an important role in the batting line-up,” he further elaborated. As a captain, Iqbal added, Misbah was the best judge of himself and can decide about his captaincy himself if he feels extra pressure amid poor performance of other batsmen. “I don’t believe Misbah is feeling any kind of pressure due to failure of other batsmen because he has proved his strong nerves and he should continue his role as captain. But other batsmen should also come up to the mark to give their captain some comfort,” he concluded.