PCB chairman, Shaharyar Khan, slams ´painful´ Pakistan displays

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan says it has been a “painful experience” to watch the Twenty20 side fail in the Asia Cup and warned “accountability is inevitable”.

Shambolic batting at the top of the order has been the undoing of Pakistan in Bangladesh, with defeats to arch-rivals India and the hosts costing them a place in Sunday’s final.

Shahid Afridi’s side were bowled out for only 83 against India, then slumped to 17-3 before recovering to beat United Arab Emirates.

They were 28-4 against Bangladesh, ultimately posting 129-7 in a five-wicket defeat.

Khan ruled out a knee-jerk reaction, but indicated changes will be made – on and off the field – both before and after the World T20, which starts in India this month.

He told reporters: “It wasn’t just a matter of disappointment, but it was a painful experience to watch Pakistan play like that.

“The performance was very poor, other than a few individuals’ performances, but I can assure [you] that accountability is inevitable and whoever is responsible has to answer.

“Changes are important in the electoral process and leadership but we have to sit and think wisely.”

“We will bring changes in selectorial process, coaching process and leadership process.

“I understand there is a lot of criticism but I am not going to change anything one week before the major tournament in India.

“Afridi will remain captain unless he himself pulls out of the job. He has been serving Pakistan [for] the last 15 years.

“Some changes you will see will be done before we play our first matches in [the] World T20 and other important changes will be done after the tournament.”

Pakistan face Sri Lanka in an Asia Cup dead rubber on Friday, with their opening World T20 game to come against a qualifier on March 16.

India will take on Bangladesh in the Asia Cup final on Sunday.