Former captain Misbah-ul-Haq expressed frustration, revealing that his advice, particularly regarding the bowling attack, went unheard by Pakistan captain Babar Azam and the selectors ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. The Green Shirts faced an early exit from the tournament, losing four out of their nine matches and concluding with a 93-run defeat to England at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens during the group stage.
In an episode of the A-Sports show ‘The Pavilion,’ Misbah-ul-Haq recounted his counsel to the squad selectors. He emphasized the pressing need for changes in the spin department, highlighting that spin bowling posed a significant challenge.
Misbah suggested the inclusion of an extra spinner, citing the underwhelming performances of Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz in recent times.
Additionally, Misbah pointed out the slump in pace bowling form, advocating for consideration of suitable replacements for potential injuries to pacers. The former captain's insights shed light on his concerns about the team's bowling dynamics.
Notably, former captain Azhar Ali, echoing similar sentiments in the ARY News show ‘Har Lamhaa Purjosh,’ questioned the omission of a specialist spinner from the World Cup squad. This inquiry arose concurrently with the inclusion of Saud Shakeel and Abdullah Shafique in the playing eleven, prompting further scrutiny of the management's decision-making.