Pakistan was routed 3-0 in the Tests and 5-0 in the one-day matches. It was their fourth straight 3-0 reverse against Australia in Tests and only their second whitewash defeat in one-day cricket.
After the one-day series loss on Sunday, Pakistan’s chief selector Iqbal Qasim resigned, saying he was disappointed with the team’s performance.
But Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt rejected Qasim’s resignation as “premature.” “I have requested him to continue as chief selector until the World Twenty20 and besides that I have formed a six-man committee to evaluate the Australia defeats,” he told reporters.
PCB chief operating officer Wasim Bari will head the committee.
The other members are PCB governing board member Wazir Ali Khoja, former Pakistan player Haroon Rasheed, PCB director Zakir Khan, former team manager Yawar Saeed and PCB legal adviser Taffazul Rizvi.
Butt, who faced public calls for his own resignation after Pakistan’s fourth defeat in the one-day series last Friday, with protesters burning his effigy, promised a fair analysis of the drubbing.
“We have to look into the reasons for the defeats and we will remove the flaws so our cricket can move forward,” said Butt, who took over in October 2008.
But the 56-year-old Qasim vowed not to withdraw his resignation.
“My decision is final and I am thankful to Butt for his kind words. I will not change my decision,” Qasim said.
A symbolic funeral for Pakistan cricket was held recently in the southern city of Hyderabad after Pakistan was blanked in the three-Test series by Australia.
“We are going to address the grey areas and do our best to remove those flaws,” Bari earlier said.
“The top weakness is in our fielding,” he acknowledged.
“Nearly 30 dropped catches on the tour of Australia and New Zealand and six, seven run-outs speak of the great weakness in fielding and we are looking for a specialist fielding coach to improve this area.” Pakistan will play a Twenty20 match against Australia at Melbourne on Friday before returning home.
Butt last week hinted at major changes in team captaincy and management - blamed by experts as the main reason for defeat.
Veteran player Mohammad Yousuf was appointed captain after Younus Khan withdrew from the tour of New Zealand and made himself unavailable for the Test series in Australia.
But former pacemen Sarfraz Nawaz and Abdul Qadir demanded change in the PCB.
“The officials of the PCB have failed to deliver,” Nawaz said. “There must be change at the top and if that doesn’t happen our performance will not improve.” “We need a new set-up because the incumbent officials have failed,” said Qadir. “We need new blood in the team and if that comes from the under-19 team it would help the team grow in the longer run.” Pakistan’s under-19 team finished runners-up to Australia in the Junior World Cup held in New Zealand last month.
Malik to skipper
Meanwhile, all-rounder Shahid Afridi’s ball tampering in Australia at the weekend has revived suspicions against Pakistani bowlers, former players said on Monday.
The 29-year-old, leading Pakistan in the fifth and final one-day match against Australia in Perth on Sunday, was shown by television cameras apparently biting the ball on a couple of occasions.
The on-field umpires instantly replaced the ball and along with the television umpire reported the matter to International Cricket Council match referee Ranjan Madugalle.
After a hearing Madugalle banned Afridi for two Twenty20 matches.
Afridi later admitted to tampering with the ball and apologised for his actions.
“I shouldn’t have done it. It just happened in the heat of the moment. I was trying to help my bowlers and win a match, one match.
There is no team in the world that doesn’t tamper with the ball. My methods were wrong,” he said.
Afridi’s ban has forced the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to appoint Shoaib Malik as captain for the Twenty20 match against Australia in Melbourne on Friday.
Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif felt Afridi’s behavior was regrettable.
“Considering the past allegations against Pakistani bowlers, Afridi’s act was a serious mistake,” Latif said.
“I think he did it innocently and his apology minimized his punishment.” Latif, who was part of the 1992 Pakistan team when their pace pair of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis were accused of ball-tampering, said Afridi needed to ensure he did not repeat the practice.
“Afridi should be very careful in future and must not repeat this act as the spotlight has returned on Pakistan once again,” said Latif.
Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam also feared his bowlers would fall under suspicion again.
“Yes, Afridi’s act was unacceptable and it will add extra pressure on our bowlers in the future... I feel sorry for him but hope that this is the last time any bowler does that.”
