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Pakistan's future still bright, says ousted selector

Pakistan's ousted chief selector Wasim Bari believes his country's cricket future is still bright despite the suspension of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

Bari, who lost his position when Pakistan president Rafiq Tarar abruptly suspended the PCB on Friday, also said on Sunday he did not think the government's action would damage the national side.

"We have six younsters in the team. It is the most talented team, if I may say, in the world," said Bari, even though they suffered an eight-wicket thrashing by Australia in last month's World Cup final at Lord's.

Pakistan were all out for 132 and Australia knocked off the runs in 20.1 overs in the most one-sided final in the 24-year history of the competition.

That result brought accusations of indiscipline against Pakistan's players as well as allegations of match-fixing from fans and local media.

Bari, speaking after an award ceremony for vice-captain Moin Khan, said the accusations were unfair considering Pakistan's record over the last six months.

They achieved Test victories over India and Sri Lanka and won a triangular limited-overs tournament in Sharjah as well as reaching the World Cup final.

"We have played very well over the last six months and we made the final in the World Cup. We lost to a better team. It was their day," he said.

But he declined to comment on possible reasons why the board was suspended.

"I really don't want to comment on that. My job was to select the team," he said.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Moin also declined to comment.

Tarar appointed an ad hoc committee, headed by Mujibur Rehman, in the PCB's place.

Mujibur Rehman is the younger brother of Saifur Rehman, chief of prime minister Nawaz Sharif's Accountability Bureau which is investigating allegations that Pakistan deliberately lost the final.

The players are already awaiting a report of an official inquiry which opened late last year into allegations of match-fixing in Pakistan cricket. No date has been set for the release of the much-delayed report.

The suspension of the country's cricket board is the second in this decade. The first was in January 1994 after a change in government.

UNI