If not fit the players should not be selected: Shahryar Khan

Over the years Pakistan cricket has suffered a lot due to the indiscipline of some of their players. From being one of the best sides in one day cricket to being eight on the rankings table it has been one of the steepest falls any cricket team has seen in recent times. This worries Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Shahryar Khan more than anyone else.

Khan has been pretty stringent when it came to talking about the antics of some of the cricketers. He revealed that the Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif case is in the hands of the Court and if the players are found guilty they will be banned for life. He said: “We have made up our minds that if any player is found guilty of corrupt practices he should consider his career over. These things have already damaged Pakistan cricket a lot and we will show no leniency on this matter at all.”

On Khan-Latif case he said, “The tribunal is like a court of law and whatever decision it gives it is acceptable to us. If found guilty these players face life bans.”

Another interesting comment during his interaction with the media at the Gaddafi stadium was that Micky Arthur, the coach of the Pakistani team has informed him about the fitness status of the players. Arthur apparently complained about the fitness of some of the players and among those were some senior players as well.

Khan’s response was spot on as he said the players failing to reach the fitness level required will not be selected for the upcoming tour. He said, “Head coach Mickey Arthur has told me that there are three to four players who are borderline cases in terms of their fitness. Some of them are seniors. I have told the coach they should not be selected for the national team.”

He also rued the fact that players had to be warned for their fitness and are not up to the mark. The PCB chief also said that their fielding standards are well below the mark. “It is a sad fact that the fitness and fielding standards of our players need improvement and not comparable to some other cricket nations. I have told the players today they need to realize how much they owe to this country and the board will not tolerate any laxity on their part if they don’t focus on their fielding and fitness standards.” Shahryar concluded.