JEDDAH, 29 November 2002 — Pakistan have a good chance of winning the 2003 World Cup in South Africa provided the team is selected purely on merit, according to Salahuddin Ahmad, popularly known as “Sallu”.
Sallu, a former chairman of Pakistan’s national selection committee, said the selectors must be fair in picking the squad and merit must be the only criterion.
“They must give priority to national interest rather than personal interest when they sit down to select the team for the World Cup,” Sallu told Arab News in an exclusive interview yesterday.
Sallu who is here to perform Umrah and pray at the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, cited past examples when paceman Wasim Akram and off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq were left out of the squad and consequently the team had fared miserably.
“The Pakistan side is full of talented players. Yousuf Youhanna, Inzamam-ul Haq and Younis Khan constitute a formidable middle order. Pakistan have one of the best bowling attacks in the world, with Wasim Akram as their spearhead,” Sallu added. He said with Abdur Razzaq recovering from a wrist injury, Pakistan now have two top class all-rounders in Razzaq and Wasim Akram.
Sallu welcomed the recall of former captain and wicketkeeper Moin Khan and seasoned opener Saeed Anwar among the probables for the World Cup.
“This is a very good decision. Moin should have been on the current tour to Zimbabwe instead of young Kamran Akmal. Moin is a gusty player. I remember in the 1999 World Cup, he played well despite a fractured finger,” he said.
He also praised the move to recall Saeed Anwar. “He is an experienced campaigner and will solve the problem of a reliable opening pair which has been dogging the Pakistan squad for some time. The selectors must repose their faith in Moin Khan, Shahid Afridi and Saeed Anwar,” Sallu said.
Discussing Pakistan’s current good showing in Zimbabwe, Sallu said the opposition was comparatively weak and most wickets there were mostly low bounce wickets. “Pakistan have fighting spirit, a quality that has stood them in good stead in the past. But they face a real test during the forthcoming tour of South Africa. Their morale can be high or low depending on how they fare in South Africa,” Sallu added. Sallu concurred with the legendary Imran Khan in picking Australia as the favorites to win the World Cup.
“The Australians are mentally and physically tough. Their morale is high and they have a truly professional approach to the game,” Sallu elaborated, giving reasons for choosing Australia to win the coveted crown.
He also mentioned India and the West Indies as two other teams to watch out during the World Cup. “India have the best batting though their bowling is a bit weak. The West Indians are in the middle of a rebuilding process. All credit must go to their new chairman of selectors Sir Vivian Richards who picked talented youngsters and they performed very well. It is very difficult to defeat India in India but the West Indians did it,” Sallu concluded.
Pakistan recall Anwar, Moin in World Cup probables
Pakistan yesterday recalled dashing left-handed opener Saeed Anwar and wicketkeeper Moin Khan in a 30-strong pool of players for next year’s World Cup, reports AFP. “I am delighted and will work hard in the coming season to find a place in the final squad,” Anwar told AFP.
The opener holds the world record for the highest one-day innings, scoring 194 against India in 1997. Khan, a former captain, had not played for Pakistan since March last year.
