22
LAHORE: Experienced player Mohammad Hafeez will be selected for the World Cup, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar M. Khan gave a clear hint on Monday.
Currently, the Moin Khan-headed national selection committee is holding meetings in Karachi to finalise the 15-member World Cup squad that is to be submitted to the International Cricket Council (ICC) by the Jan 7 deadline.
Amid speculations of all kinds on Hafeez’s selection in the World Cup squad, Shaharyar has now almost cleared his selection for the spectacle.
Interestingly, it seems, is also the lone reason to keep national spin bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed with the team, otherwise the former Test leg-spinner has to work at the NCA (due to the PCB’s new policy of getting rid of dual-job policy).
Talking to Dawn, Shaharyar said currently Hafeez was working hard on rectifying his bowling action under the supervision of Saqlain Mushtaq, Mohammad Akram, besides Mushtaq, at the NCA.
PCB chief cancels visit to Karachi
“The difference between Hafeez’s arm bend and legal 15-degree limit set by the ICC is of just one and a half degrees. So, hopefully with continuous work Hafeez will be able to bowl [under ICC prescribed limit],” hoped Shaharyar.
Meanwhile, Shaharyar, who was to visit Karachi from Tuesday to give his viewpoint to the selectors on the World Cup squad selection, has now decided not to go to the coastal city.
“I have talked to captain Misbah-ul-Haq, head coach Waqar Younis and chief selector Moin Khan over telephone to give my views over the selection and now final [team] selection is the job of the selectors,” Shaharyar said.
The PCB chief, meanwhile, said both Mushtaq Ahmed and assistant manager Shahid Aslam would be part of the World Cup team management, noting dual job restriction on both of them was not applicable for different reasons.
“Mushtaq should be with the team to continue his work on Hafeez’s action during the World Cup and prior to the short tour of New Zealand. Therefore, dual-job restriction for him has been withdrawn,” Shaharyar said.
About Shahid, the chairman disclosed that he had already relinquished his job at the NCA as manager coach education and preferred to be assistant manager. Therefore, the PCB chief revealed, Shahid would accompany the World Cup squad as assistant manager.
Published in Dawn, January 6th, 2015
On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play
