Differences over the selection of the Pakistani one-day squad between the selectors on one hand and the coach and captain on the other have emerged, said a media report on Saturday.
Selectors are apparently miffed with coach Bob Woolmer and captain Inzamam-ul-Haq for having a greater say in selection matters and over the exclusion of several players recommended by the selection committee.
"Definitely, we wanted to send Yasir (Arafat) and Imran Farhat for the one-day tour to India as both are in great form. Both deserved to be selected on the one-day team," an unnamed Pakistani selector was quoted as saying by The News.
Farhat, who struck a century in India's loss to Pakistan in the Lahore Test last year, has been in terrific form. He hit a double hundred in the final of the Patron's Trophy, a domestic tournament in Pakistan.
Medium pacer Arafat is meanwhile proving to be a match winner for the Pakistan A team currently touring Sri Lanka.
The selector divulged that the spinners in the current squad were ineffective against the Indians who were good players of spin and therefore would not make a dent on the Indian batting in the one-day series.
{{/usCountry}}The selector divulged that the spinners in the current squad were ineffective against the Indians who were good players of spin and therefore would not make a dent on the Indian batting in the one-day series.
{{/usCountry}}"(Danish) Kaneria did take some wickets but he was too expensive and Indians are playing him well as they do most of the spinners on their home turf. I don't think players like Arshad (Khan) or Kaneria are going to play more than one match during the one-day series," he said.
The selector reasoned that since Pakistan already has two spinners in all-rounders Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Hafeez, the inclusion of the two specialist spinners was unnecessary.
The Pakistan Cricket Board selection committee headed by former Test player Wasim Bari has been involved in a continuous power struggle over team selection with the team management.
The committee has been demanding for more say in team selection on the lines of the Australian model.