Danish Kaneria questions Faisal Iqbal’s selection in PCB’s coaching panel

On Thursday, August 20, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) named the panel of coaches for their provincial domestic panel. Some of the prominent cricketers like Mohammad Yousuf, Abdul Razzaq, Mohammad Zahid got new roles. In the meantime, former Pakistan leg-spin bowler Danish Kaneria was a tad surprised by the selection of one personnel- Faisal Iqbal.

Iqbal played 26 Tests and 18 ODIs for Pakistan from 2000 to 2010, scoring 1,124 and 314 runs respectively with two centuries and eight half-centuries. Though at the highest level, he couldn’t flourish, he was a stalwart in domestic cricket. Having scored nearly 20,000 runs with 36 tons and 117 half-centuries, the Karachi-born right-handed batsman was difficult to dislodge.

As far as the coaching spectrum is concerned, the country’s cricket board changed the same of all six regions. Talking about Faisal’s appointment, Kaneria questioned his credentials of selection. He didn’t mince any words in saying that the batter didn’t play on merit. Kaneria also urged the PCB to look into the future, keeping in mind the welfare of Pakistan cricket.

“Faisal Iqbal, on what credentials he has been appointed. Don’t deserve it. There are many other test players who have served the country. The guy who never played on merit got on the selection panel. PCB please don’t ruin future of Pakistan cricket,” the Karachi-born Kaneria wrote.

Here’s Danish Kaneria’s tweet

@FaisalIqbalCric on what credentials he has been appointed don’t deserve it there are many other test players who have served country the guy never played on merit got on the selection panel @TheRealPCB please don’t ruin future of Pakistan cricket

— Danish Kaneria (@DanishKaneria61) August 20, 2020

After the appointment of the new coaching panel, Nadeem Khan, the PCB’s director of High Performance, issued a statement, showing optimism about Pakistan’s future in the sport.

“I want to thank all the outgoing coaches for their contributions and urge them to remain involved with this great game as the PCB is optimistic there will be future opportunities in the game, both as coaches and consultants,” Khan was quoted as saying in the statement.

“When the PCB had launched the revamped domestic structure last year on 29th August, it had announced it was an evolving process and changes will be made to further strengthen the structure. Due to paucity of time last season, the coaches couldn’t be appointed through a review, analysis and recruitment process, which we have corrected this year,” he added.