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Pakistan cricket team’s chief selector, Wasim Bari, on Thursday said that return to top form by skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq and other batsmen would be the key to Pakistan’s success in the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup starting next month.

“Inzamam must lead the team from the front and his batting form along with other experienced players will be crucial for team’s good showing in the West Indies,” he said in an interview here.

Inzamam managed just 74 runs with an average of 14.80 in the recently-concluded five-match One-day International (ODI) series against South Africa after having accumulated just 198 runs in the three-match Test series.

“There may be difference of opinion on the selection of the team but it was picked with consensus,” he said. “Like everyone, I am also disappointed with the showing of the team in South Africa. But that was because of injuries to Shoaib Akhtar and Umar Gul,” he explained.

“Our batsmen failed to adjust on the bouncy and swinging South African tracks. But that is no excuse because they are professional cricketers and should adapt to the conditions accordingly,” he pointed out.

He said the Indian team went through similar problem against South Africa and same was the case with Pakistan players. Bari said southpaw opener Imran Farhat was dropped for the World Cup squad because as per the team analysis, he failed to rectify his mistakes and out of Imran Nazir and Yasir Hameed, only could have been picked.

Source:The News