Misbah-ul-Haq Wants Pakistan Players to be Taken Into Confidence While Finalising Domestic Schedule

Pakistan's Test and one-day captain Misbah-ul-Haq has told the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to take the players into confidence while finalising the domestic cricket schedule and international matches.

A reliable source told PTI on Friday that Misbah and the Pakistan chief selector, Moin Khan were specially invited to a meeting of the PCB's cricket committee this week for exchange of views.

"Misbah at the meeting complained to the committee members that while finalising the domestic schedule the players were never consulted which led to many problems for the preparation of the Pakistan team ahead of international events," the source said.

He said Misbah had pointed out that due to the haphazard scheduling of domestic matches, which mostly clashed with international events, the players suffered.

"His point was that domestic events should not be scheduled prior to an international event as when the two clashed the Pakistan team players faced problems. His argument was that players were caught in two minds whether to play in domestic matches or attend the training sessions of the national team," the source added.

He said Misbah had advised the cricket committee to not schedule the prestigious domestic events alongside any international commitment.

"Misbah and Moin also voiced their complaints over the standard of pitches prepared for domestic cricket matches," he added.

He said both told the cricket committee that at many centres the groundsmen left a lot of grass on the pitch and this led to an impediment in growth of spinners and matches getting over quickly.

"His point was that neither are spinners getting a chance to develop properly nor are the batsmen able to play long innings because of the pitch conditions."