WHAT OTHERS SAY

ASIA CUP FIASCO

If there is one trivia question tougher than what ailed Pakistan during their dismal Asia Cup campaign in the UAE, it is this: why was the winning combination of last year’s Champions Trophy in England disturbed? Sarfraz Ahmed’s team, which crashed out of the six-nation contest after a shock defeat against Bangladesh on Wednesday night, clearly missed specialist batsmen like Mohammad Hafeez and Azhar Ali in the middle order, besides all-rounder Imad Wasim — all of whom were an integral part of Pakistan’s fabulous title campaign in England last year. Even with the existing set of players, Pakistan never really got their team combination right for the Asia Cup games. Their inexplicable preference for a wicketless Mohammad Amir over Junaid Khan who claimed four wickets against Bangladesh, the surprise omission of all-rounder Fahim Ashraf from a number of matches and THE Constant reshufle In THE BATTING order BACKIRED. THEIR only Convincing win in the tournament came against minnows Hong Kong, and, though they won AGAINST AFGHANISTAN In A last-over inish, THE team APPEARED In disarray. India, even without Virat Kohli, proved a handful and outplayed the Pakistan team with comprehensive victories disappointing millions at home. Apart from the players, the string of defeats also put under the spotlight the coaches accompanying the team led by Mickey Arthur and including Azhar Mahmood, Grant Flower and Grant Bradburn. Having said that, a knee-jerk reaction at this stage or hasty measures would be ill advised on the part of the selectors or the Pakistan Cricket Board. Dawn