The selection of batsmen picked for the World Cup 2015 seems to be fair, but that of bowlers look idiotic. The squad includes two legspinners, but no full-time off spinners. Maybe the selectors are thinking Hafeez’s ban will be lifted. What if he is not allowed to bowl? And do we need to have two legspinners for pitches of Australia and New Zealand. Moreover, Afridi and Yasir are quite similar bowlers.
Besides, we have two skillful left-arm spinners in Raza Hasan and Zulfiqar Baber but both were ignored, perhaps due to the presence of Haris Sohail in the squad. But he has very little experience of bowling. Before the series in New Zealand he had bowled only a few overs in first class cricket. Â It would be unfair to expect him to do much in the mega event.
Now come to the pacers. Two of the five pace bowlers picked for the World Cup have very little experience. Ehsan Adil has played only two ODIs. Sohail Khan has played only five ODIs. Sohail has played well in the domestic event, but he should have been given more international experience before the mega event. Why wasn’t he picked for the recent series against Australia and New Zealand?
Then there is Wahab Riaz. Â He has been given so many chances and he has taken wickets, but he remains very inconsistent and very expensive with an economy rate of 5.64.
Only Junaid Khan and Muhammad Irfan fully justify their selection.
Some people are criticizing the selection of Umar Akmal but they should consider that he has an average of almost 36 in ODIs although he bats at number five or six. He is a far better batsman for ODIs than Asad Shafiq who has a pathetic averages of less than 25 runs. Besides, he can also play the role of wicket keeper in case Sarfraz gets injured or fails to do well.
The batting line is a very good combination of experience and youth. With the experience of Younis Khan and Misbahul Haq, the youngsters Ahmed Shehzad, Haris Sohail, Umar Akmal, Sohaib Maqsood and Sarfraz Ahmad can pile up big totals and chase big targets.
Let’s hope Misbah, Younis and Afridi guide the team as did Imran and Miandad in 1992 and the youngsters play the role that was played by Inzamam, Moin, Aamer Sohail, Aqib Javed and Mushtaq Ahmad. If the players play up to their potential, Pakistan can once again bring home the trophy.
Dear TNT Reader,
At The News Tribe, our mission is to bring you free, independent, and unbiased news and content that keeps you informed and empowered. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism, as we understand that we are a platform for truth.
Apart from independent global news coverage, we also commit our unique focus on the Muslim world. In an age marked by the troubling rise of Islamophobia and widespread misrepresentation of Muslims in Western media, we strive to provide accurate and fair coverage.
But to continue doing so, we need your support. Even a small donation of 1$ can make a big difference. Your contribution will help us maintain the quality of our news and counteract the negative narratives that are so prevalent.
Please consider donating today to ensure we can keep delivering the news that matters. Together, we can make a positive impact on the world, and work towards a more inclusive, informed global society.
Donate Monthly Subscription Annual Subscription
