LAHORE – Pakistan cricket team chief selector Muhammad Wasim said onSunday that the players, who were not available to join the bio-securebubble on February 3, were considered unavailable for the selection for PakT20 squad to play South Africa in a three match series.
“Unfortunately, the scenario is as such that every player has to join thebio-bubble on February 3, and if a player can’t do so, it means he isunavailable. Same was the case with Muhammad Hafeez as he was not availablefor the bio-secure bubble, that’s why he was dropped. There’s no questionon his performance”, he told media men at a news conference here.
Regarding absence of Shadab Khan and Imad Wasim from the squad, the chiefselector said: “Shadab Khan is injured that’s why he couldn’t join thebio-secure bubble while Imad Wasim wanted to spend time with family, that’swhy he showed unavailability for the bio-secure bubble and that’s why hetoo fell in the category for dropped players. Abdullah Shafiq and MuhammadMusa are two players, who were dropped from the team. Both need to playmore domestic cricket and further improve their skills and game to cementthe place in the national team,” he added.
Opening batsman Fakhar Zaman and left-arm pacer Wahab Riaz have also beendropped for the series while the likes of Hasan Ali, Asif Ali and AamerYamin have been recalled. Four uncapped players – Zafar Gohar, Danish Aziz,Zahid Mehmood and Amad Butt- have also been included into the squad withthe T20 World Cup set to be played later this year in India.
“Opening batsman Fakhar Zaman is not fully fit and also not in a good formas well. When we see his last performances, we will see he is not goingwell and his performance chart is consecutively declining. Same is the casewith Wahab Riaz, whose last performances are also not satisfactory.
“Danish Ali, Asif Ali and Aamer Yamin were included in the national side.For new bowl, we have best option in shape of Aamer Yamin and Amad Butt, asthey play new ball very well while Amad also plays well in dead overs.Zafar Gohar also bats when the need arises so these all youngsters are verygood and there is a need to give them confidence and they can emerge asfuture stars for Pakistan cricket,” he said.
Read Top Stories
“In bowling department, we have included Hasan Ali for his brilliantall-round performances in domestic cricket as he proved his mettle for hisside and also knocked our (selectors) doors well, that’s why he wasincluded in the side.
We have also included Zahid Mehmood and Muhammad Nawaz and these newinclusions will surely help in strengthening our bowling department andhopefully it will deliver against the strong side like South Africa,” thechief selector said. All the three matches will be played at the GaddafiStadium with the squad alongside officials entering bio-secure bubble onFebruary 3. Those who are also part of the second Test against South Africawill link up with the T20 team once the contest finishes.
Pakistan T2-I Squad for South Africa series: Babar Azam (c), Aamer Yamin,Amad Butt, Asif Ali, Danish Aziz, Faheem Ashraf, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf,Hasan Ali, Hussain Talat, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hasnain,Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, UsmanQadir, Zafar Gohar and Zahid Mehmood.
