Pakistan team manager and former captain Moin Khan, while giving a clear hint that all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez will not be part of the Test squad against South Africa, has said that Pakistan have the potential to beat the Proteas in the upcoming Test series if the team play according to a plan.
“Though Hafeez is a potentially sound cricketer, his current form is not very good and so he has not been considered for the Test squad. However, no one can write him off because he has served Pakistan well in the past and I believe he still has a lot of cricket left in him,” Moin said while talking to reporters during the practice match between PCB Chairman XI and Chief Minister XI at the Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday.
Moin said he had no role in the selection of the team, adding the selectors will announce it after watching the performance of the players in the two practice matches. While the first practice match is currently being played at the Gaddafi Stadium, the second one will be held in the UAE during which the Pakistan Test squad will be announced.
Sources told Dawn that the selectors would be relying on young and inexperienced openers like Khurram Manzoor, Shan Masood or Ahmed Shehzad for the Test matches against top-ranked South Africa.
Some critics and former players, however, have expressed their surprise at the omission of experienced openers Taufiq Umar and Imran Farhat who enjoy a very impressive track record against the Proteas. They questioned the criteria under which the two players have been axed by the selectors and have not even been considered for the ongoing trial matches to prove their form and fitness.
Moreover, Moin further said that though it would not be an easy series for Pakistan, if the team played according to a strategy and with good planning, they could surprise South Africa.
“It will not happen that we will just go to the UAE, play the series and win it. For that, we will have to play according to a plan and by giving our full efforts on the ground because the South Africans are a very tough side,” he said.
The two-Test series against the Proteas will commence from the 14th of this month which will be followed by T20 games and one-day series.
Commenting on the practice match, Moin said the cream of Pakistan cricket was being seen in action here and the players must give their best to prove their mettle to the selectors.
To a question, Moin said that wins and defeats were part of the game but he would be a worried man if his team did not play positively or give their best shot.
“Zimbabwe [Test] defeat was an eye opener for all of us and now it is up to the players how much they can learn from the mistakes which they committed in that Test at Harare. That is the only way to improve our performance,” he said.
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