LAHORE: A high-level Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official on request for anonymity exposed the board’s grand plan which shockingly ‘favoured’ all-rounder Shoaib Malik and wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal for upcoming World Cup and ousted in-form batsman Fawad Alam, Dawn News reported on Sunday.
The PCB official revealed that the omission of Fawad Alam from the national One Day International (ODI) squad was part of the plan for creating room for Shoaib Malik and Kamran Akmal for the international event.
Both players have been included in the 30-man preliminary squad for the World Cup.
The players who have not played ODIs for over a year have been added in the national squad at the expense of Fawad Alam who has proved his mettle with a Test average of 41.66, 45.14 in ODIs and 56.73 in first-class.
The official expressed shock over Alam’s omission due to ‘personal preference’ for Kamran and Shoaib by ‘two individuals in particular of the team management’.
He said the ground realities that there was no requirement for addition of wicket-keeper batsman Kamran Akmal in the squad in view of recent performances by Sarfraz Ahmed. Even Kamran’s younger brother Umar could be used as gloveman in the upcoming tournament, he said.
The international event will commence on February 14 being hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
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