ISLAMABAD: Asian Bradman Zaheer Abbas believes there is a need to set up a Player’s Association in Pakistan, as it provides coordination between the players’ and the cricket board.
“Players’ Association is very strong and people listen to it. In other countries it is the Players’ Association which decides whether a team will go on the tour or not as part of the players’ security. It provides coordination between the players’ and board and together they take decisions, therefore, I feel a Players’ Association should be in Pakistan,” he said in an interview on a YouTube channel Cricket Baaz.
Speaking about the talented youngster Haider Ali, Zaheer, who scored 5,062 runs in 78 Tests, he said Haider was a brave boy and plays Twenty20 like it should be played.
“He looked mature the way he was having discussions with his partner in the game. As time passes, he would get more mature, but his performance should not go down.”
Haider, 19, became the first Pakistani batsman to hit a half-century in his first Twenty20 as he struck 54 from 33 balls against England in the third and final game of the three-match series.
“A permanent place should be set for him either 1, 2 or 3 in the team, as making changes in the players’ spots damages their performances,” he said and added, he should not be given so much hype with just one performance as it damages the player.
Former president International Cricket Council (ICC) also lauded Pakistani limited-overs Skipper Babar Azam and said he did not saw any weakness in the young prolific batsman.
“His batting, his face expressions seemed confident, though his performance on the England tour was mediocre on the tour. One player cannot win you a test match unless and until you don’t have three to four good batsmen. A player shouldn’t be compared with any other. Leave him on the way he is and he will perform,” he said.
To a question, the former skipper, who scored 2,572 runs in 62 ODIs, said the head-coach-cum-chief-selector should give up one role, either of the chief selector or the head coach.
“The more responsibilities you have the more questions will be raised. I feel he should take anyone role, of the chief selector or head coach to ease himself,” he said.
On the resignation of the Head of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) Cricket Committee Iqbal Qasim, Zaheer said when a player resigned, it means either he was not given the power or if given, he was not allowed to utilize it.
“PCB should take the input of former experienced cricketers who have done for the country. Likewise it is happening with others, our experience should also be taken,” he said.
Zaheer said fast and bouncy wickets should be made in Pakistan so that the team was well-prepared when it would go to Australia, England and South Africa.
