Former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad has claimed that 'injustice' has been meted out to his nephew, Faisal Iqbal, as far as the latter cementing a place in the national cricket team was concerned.
"No doubt injustice has been done to some players including Faisal. But at the same time, as a professional, I believe if he keeps on scoring runs there is no way he will not be rewarded in time," Miandad said. Faisal, who has been in and out of the national team for the last few years, was recalled to the Test squad for the tour to Sri Lanka last month after nearly two years on the sidelines.
Unfortunately, he still didn't get a chance to play as the selectors preferred to go with debutant Ayub Dogar after skipper Misbah-ul-Haq was banned due to slow over-rate, thus overlooking the experience of Faisal.
Miandad pointed out that normally when a senior player is unavailable due to some reason the next most seasoned player is preferred to replace him.
"But in Sri Lanka this didn't happen and it was not fair. But I don't want to create any negativity because I believe a player has his own destiny to fulfill."
Miandad, who has been asked by the PCB to work with the under-19 players and members of the senior team during camps in Lahore, said he was delighted to be given this responsibility.
"But I have always said that players who have played around 200 ODIs or 50 Tests don't need any coaching. They just need to be fine-tuned. I believe the younger players can benefit more from my experience," he said.
Miandad, who has remained coach of the national team thrice, said there was no doubt the Pakistani players were not always consistent.
"Coaches can only advice a player but it is the player who has to go and perform and handle the situation in the middle.
When we played no one coached us, we learnt by ourselves because I believe once you play for the national team it is your responsibility to keep improving and learning and if you say at this level you need coaching then you shouldn't be playing for your country," Miandad said.
Miandad also said that in the past family commitments had kept him away from accepting any coaching assignments with the national team.
"But now I have time and if required can also go on tours with the team."
The former captain, who has played in 124 Tests and is presently having a senior position in the board, said that consistency had always been a problem with the national team despite producing some great players.
He made it clear that there would be no clash between him and head coach Dav Whatmore.
"The board has also appointed Whatmore... he will do his job and I will do what I have to do."
Miandad also did not hold back from saying that justice was not done with him when he was coach.
"I was removed in 2004 when my contract still remained. When I told the board what needed to be done they didn't listen. They were not fair in dealing with me as coach."
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