Former Pakistani spinner and chairman of selectors Salahuddin Ahmed on Sunday heaped praise on Rahul Dravid for his stellar performance in the second cricket Test, but lashed out at the PCB chairman and coach Bob Woolmer following the side's 195-run defeat in Kolkata.
"Hats off to Rahul Dravid who played such a wonderful innings. He was the difference between the two teams. He showed how destructive the combination of technique, patience and skill can be," Salahuddin, a national selector for a record nine times, said.
Dravid scored 110 and 135 to win the man-of-the-match award as India took a 1-0 lead by winning the second Test.
"Our batsmen came good but couldn't show the same consistency as Dravid. But I am confident that our batsmen must have learnt a great deal from Dravid and also from Sachin Tendulkar who scored 52 in both the innings."
He also praised the effort of Asim Kalam who showed a lot of fighting qualities in the two Test matches.
"Asim Kamal once again showed that he was a great asset and a jewel in the Pakistan crown. Let's hope that the imported coach doesn't preserve him in a cold storage as he did prior to this tour," Salahuddin said with reference to Bob Woolmer's decision to play the left-hander in only his third out of seven Tests since taking charge in June last year.
{{/usCountry}}"Asim Kamal once again showed that he was a great asset and a jewel in the Pakistan crown. Let's hope that the imported coach doesn't preserve him in a cold storage as he did prior to this tour," Salahuddin said with reference to Bob Woolmer's decision to play the left-hander in only his third out of seven Tests since taking charge in June last year.
{{/usCountry}}"Mr Bob Woolmer is best at giving excuses and blaming everyone except himself. Lets see what he has to say after the Kolkata defeat. The South Africans were branded chokers during his time and now it seems that the techniques the Pakistan young batsmen are showing, we will soon be known as jokers," Salahuddin said.