In the wake of the announcement of Pakistan’s ODI squad for the forthcoming Asia Cup and the series against Afghanistan, by the newly appointed, chief selector, Inzamum-ul-Haq, journalists and fans started raising questions on some selection calls. The chief selector addressed those questions in his press conference. We delve into some of those questions and his answers.
Picking M.Haris Over Sarfraz Ahmed:
The selection question of choosing M.Haris over Sarfraz Ahmed might at first seem perplexing and irrelevant considering no journalist at the presser raised such a query. However, this query has been debated among social media channels and the “youtube analysts”. Sarfraz has been absent from the ODI squad for nearly 2.5 years, during which time M.Haris has fulfilled the role of backup keeper. Furthermore, their roles within the team differ significantly.
While Sarfraz’s utility as a top-order batsman is evident, the current line-up’s established Top 5 makes accommodating Sarfraz’s inclusion a challenge. On the contrary, M.Haris has not only shown proficiency as a backup keeper but also demonstrated his potential as a power-hitting asset, as evidenced by his brisk 21-run contribution from the number 6 position in the most recent ODI as well as his power-hitting in the T20 World Cup. This shows that the team management looks at Haris not only as a backup keeper but also as a potential power-hitting and finishing option thus explaining his selection.
Also Read: Pakistan Unveils Squad for Asia Cup 2023 ODI: A Closer Look at the Lineup
Continued Faith in Muhammad Nawaz:
The decision to persist with Muhammad Nawaz has ignited some selection questions, primarily due to his recent performance, where he secured only a solitary wicket across four ODIs, at an economy rate of more than 6. His batting display in the same period accounted for a modest 41 runs.
Nawaz’s retention could be attributed to his track record of making match-winning contributions in T20 fixtures and his being part of the ODI setup for the past three years. However, Inzamam has indicated a stance open to alternatives, “We are looking at options with an open mind like Imad Wasim who is a good bowler and a senior player . If we need a 2nd left-arm spinner, we can consider him”. This indicates Imad is somewhere among the selector’s plans hence the upcoming series and Asia up will be crucial for Nawaz.
Exclusion of Shan and Inclusion of Abdullah, Tayyab, and Saud:
The omission of Shan Masood, who had been appointed vice-captain by former management committee head Najam Sethi, from the ODI squad has led to a debate. Meanwhile, the continued inclusion of Abdullah Shafiq, alongside the addition of Saud and Tayyab, has also raised questions.
Inzamam offered clarity on these decisions, asserting,
“Shan has performed very well on the whole across formats. Unfortunately, his performances in ODIs have gone down. We have a list of 20-21 players, and Shan is part of that. But Saud Shakeel and a couple of other players were impressive recently like Abdullah who looked better in tests, so we had to leave out Shan. But he is a part of our plans.”
Excluding Shan due to his dip in ODI performance highlights the selectors’ focus on giving the longer-term options a chance.
Selection of Faheem Ashraf:
The selection of Faheem Ashraf, despite his two-year hiatus from ODIs and a relatively lackluster List A record, has invoked curiosity. Faheem also didn’t have anything impressive to talk about from the recent T20Is he played on his international comeback. Inzamam addressed this selection by stating the need for a pace-bowling all-rounder
“Preference has been given to Faheem Ashraf since the squad doesn’t have another fast-bowling allrounder. If you look at PSL and other tournaments, he was in good form. And we need an allrounder, he is a fast-bowling allrounder, which we need at the World Cup.”
However, Faheem’s preference over Aamer Jamal, whose List A performances have outshone Faheem’s in domestic as well as Pakistan Shaheen’s games, has raised questions. Inzamam’s assertion for the need for a pace bowling option is valid but it will always be a debate whether Faheem over Aamer Jamal was the right call given the recent performances of both players.
Zaman Khan and Ihsanullah:
Among other selection questions is the non-selection of Zaman Khan or Ihsanullah. Ihsanullah’s case is clear as he is still understood to have been going through rehab for his shoulder injury. As for Zaman, this was again addressed by Inzamum-ul -Haq himself
“No doubt Zaman has done well in white ball however he lacks experience in the 50-over format but he has the potential and has proven himself in the t20s. If he plays more first class and 50 over games, he will be an asset for Pakistan”
This indicates that Zaman is on the selector’s radar but they wish him to gain more experience in the longer white-ball format.
Babar Azam’s Captaincy:
Inzamam was also asked about Babar Azam’s captaincy as the previous PCB management especially the chairman repeatedly talked about his captaincy role. Inzamam expressed unwavering confidence in Babar’s leadership skills. He suggested that the more a player captains, the more he learns. Inzamam commended Babar’s performance as captain so far, asserting stability in the captaincy is crucial.
This article delves into the significant questions raised about player selections. We provide insights from the Chief Selector himself and offer our perspectives on these selections. The upcoming series and Asia Cup will provide a platform for players to validate their inclusion and strengthen their case for a spot in the World Cup squad, as Pakistan prepares for the ultimate challenge in India.
Also Read:
