The philosophy behind the selection of players for Pakistan tour of West Indies, England. Image: PCB
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has disclosed the squads for the Pakistan tour of West Indies, England as the men in green will visit England from 8-20 July for three ODIs and as many T20Is before their departure to West Indies for a five-match Test series to be followed by two red-ball contests.
Usually, the board is pressurized with the animadversions of the censors having different verdicts on the selection. This time too, the social media got full of the opined posts distinguishing as per distinctive mindsets. To acknowledge and justify the selections, chief selector Mohammad Wasim joined a press conference organized by the PCB where he justified the selections of many players.
Speaking of why Azam Khan has been elected, he asserted that the PCB is contemplating creating a steadiness between talent and fitness as Azam’s assortment must have developed inquiries of the aficionados amidst his weight. Visibly, the lad has worked on his fitness since the last PSL season.
“We are trying to create a balance between skill and fitness. Fitness is important but you have to gage few things. Azam Khan is improving his fitness and goals have been set for him but viewing the need of the team, Azam was preferred,”
Moreover, Imad Wasim has been missing from the national squad for a longspun time. Justifying his selection, Wasim added,
“Scenario has changed behind Imad’s return. If you look at, the coming tour[s] are important but the events after that, including ICC T20 World Cup which will potentially host by UAE. Imad’s record there has been outstanding.”
People were seen questioning the absence of Usman Salahuddin and Waqas Maqsood, the domestic performers. Outlooking the scenario, Wasim continued,
“Our Test team is quite settled and the others before them are lined up. They are still waiting for their turn. We have marked replacement and preferences will be given to those who have performed,”
Talking about the mid-order issues for the Pakistan cricket Team, Wasim said that despite winning the six ODI series in a row, we are lacking in some areas, hence, Haris has to be added to the crew.
Avatel IP Solutions
“We have won six series in a row but still there are weaker areas. It was highlighted that we are facing problems in middle-order. Haris Sohail has reclaimed the required fitness standards which is why we have made changes to strengthen that area,”
The philosophy behind the selection of players for Pakistan tour of West Indies, England
Here are the complete squads for the Pakistan tour of West Indies, England: (took from PCB)
ODIs: Babar Azam (captain) (Central Punjab), Shadab Khan (vice-captain) (Northern), Abdullah Shafique (Central Punjab), Faheem Ashraf (Central Punjab), Fakhar Zaman (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Haider Ali (Northern), Haris Rauf (Northern), Haris Sohail (Balochistan), Hasan Ali (Central Punjab), Imam-ul-Haq (Balochistan), Mohammad Hasnain (Sindh), Mohammad Nawaz (Northern), Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper) (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Salman Ali Agha (Southern Punjab), Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper) (Sindh), Saud Shakeel (Sindh), Shaheen Shah Afridi (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) and Usman Qadir (Central Punjab).
T20Is: Babar Azam (captain) (Central Punjab), Shadab Khan (vice-captain) (Northern), Arshad Iqbal (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Azam Khan (Sindh), Faheem Ashraf (Central Punjab), Fakhar Zaman (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Haider Ali (Northern), Haris Rauf (Northern), Hasan Ali (Central Punjab), Imad Wasim (Northern), Mohammad Hafeez (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Mohammad Hasnain (Sindh), Mohammad Nawaz (Northern), Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper) (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Mohammad Wasim Jnr (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper) (Sindh), Shaheen Shah Afridi (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Sharjeel Khan (Sindh) and Usman Qadir (Central Punjab).
Avatel IP Solutions
Tests: Babar Azam (captain) (Central Punjab), Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper) (vice-captain) (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Abdullah Shafique (Central Punjab), Abid Ali (Central Punjab), Azhar Ali (Central Punjab), Faheem Ashraf (Central Punjab), Fawad Alam (Sindh), Haris Rauf (Northern), Hasan Ali (Central Punjab), Imran Butt (Balochistan), Mohammad Abbas (Southern Punjab), Mohammad Nawaz (Northern), Naseem Shah (Central Punjab), Nauman Ali (Northern), Sajid Khan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper) (Sindh), Saud Shakeel (Sindh), Shaheen Shah Afridi (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Shahnawaz Dahani (Sindh), Yasir Shah (Balochistan, subject to fitness) and Zahid Mahmood (Southern Punjab).
Also, see:
India to lose hospitality of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021
News
