All’s not well in Pak camp

Karachi, The fact-finding committee of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which is probing the team’s poor show in the Asia Cup, has also been tasked to find out whether there is any groupism in the side and if any player has under-performed during the World T20.
According to sources, the committee will talk to captain Shahid Afridi, head coach Waqar Younis, manager Intikhab Alam and a few players when the team returns home from India.
The PCB high-ups, said the source, were surprised over the way Pakistan lost to New Zealand after they appeared to be on course for a win. There are already rumours floating around that the team is divided and some players are under-performing to settle personal scores.
The fact-finding committee, which includes present Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq and senior batsman Younis Khan, has already met thrice to probe the Asia Cup debacle.
Team plagued by ‘groupism, politics’: Minister
Lahore: A Pakistan minister today claimed that “groupism and politics” were rife in the team and some players had “ganged up” against captain Shahid Afridi. “There is groupism in the team; it was quite visible in the Pak-New Zealand match. Some Pakistani players ganged up against the other (Shahid Afridi) to let him down. They performed shamelessly to play their dirty politics,” said Abid Sher Ali, the state minister for water and power.
Ali demanded that the players who performed shamefully be banned for life and “a new team be formed after the T20 World Cup”.
I had warned of this slide, says Akhtar
Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar said he is not surprised by the team’s poor run as the people given key positions in the team are bothered only about their earnings. “This downslide didn’t happen overnight, it started happening few years ago and I kept on warning a day will come when we will find it hard to beat even Bangladesh. No one listened, including the board,” Akhtar said.
“I can only hope that sensible decisions are taken now and those people are brought in to serve Pakistan cricket who don’t care about their salaries, fees and perks but about Pakistan,” he said.
Pakistan’s former captain Javed Miandad also lambasted the team. “Where is the pride and passion in this team to do well. I don’t see it. The selectors, captain and coach have all made repeated blunders and now they are complaining. It is a joke,” Miandad said.
Afridi hints at retirement
Dejected Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi gave clear indications that he would retire after his team’s campaign ends in the World T20. After suffering a 22-run defeat to New Zealand in a crucial World T20 match here last night, Afridi said the upcoming game against Australia could be his last. “That (the match against Australia) could be my last,” said Afridi.