LAHORE: The flawed selection process of Pakistan cricket was brutally exposed on Monday when the enigmatic Asif Ali and the inexperienced Azam Khan were included in a 15-man squad for the Twenty20 World Cup, with Fakhar Zaman named among a trio of travelling reserves, while Sharjeel Khan has been axed altogether.

Among other major sho­cks, former skippers Sarfa­raz Ahmed and Shoaib Mal­ik — who both seemed to have reached the end of their days in Pakistan colours — also failed to make the cut alongside Faheem Ashraf, the seam-bowling all-rounder who has lost out to North Waziristan’s 20-year-old Mohammad Wasim, when the chief selector Mohammad Wasim ann­ounced the squad that will be also on duty for the five-match T20 International ser­ies against New Zealand in Lahore and the two games versus England in Rawalpindi just prior to the mega event.

Emerging pacer Shahnawaz Dahani, the star of HBL Pakistan Super League 6, and leg-spinner Usman Qadir were also picked as reserves, while Sohaib Maqsood was retained after being belatedly recalled for the England and West Indies following a hiatus of five years from the international scene with Khushdil Shah inducted to support the trusted batting unit of captain Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Mohammad Hafeez.

Fakhar relegated among reserves; Sharjeel axed

Pakistan’s middle-order batting had been chaotic over the past 15 months with Asif making yet another comeback despite the fact the 29-year-old had never won a T20 international on his own. And despite a strike-rate of 147.02 across 203 T20 matches, Asif had been a proven failure who had been afforded far too many opportunities by the previous selectors. In 29 T20 internationals, he has a strike rate of 123.74 — a figure that is well below for someone bracketed as a power-hitter — with a tally of 344 runs and a best score of 41 against Zimbabwe in July 2018.

Unveiling the World Cup party during a media conference at the Gaddafi Stadium, Wasim was bombarded with a volley of hard-hitting queries.

“We have been testing players by picking and dropping time and again while trying different combinations. But this is the best available pool of players having ability to handle the pressure of World Cup matches,” Wasim remarked in his defence. “Performances of several players who have been selected are not at par but we had tried to cover all our bases by catering for the modern day brand of T20 cricket.”

The chief selector further defended Azam as the backup to Rizwan, with Sarfaraz having played that role since the England tour last year. “Azam is picked as the backup wicket-keeper to Rizwan, who will remain the No.1 choice. And since we are being confined to name only 15 players, Azam is the best alternative as he has the ability of being a power-hitter in the middle-order and it would be unfair to drop after a few matches.”

However, Azam — son of ex-Pakistan wicket-keeping stalwart Moin Khan — had played just two T20 Internationals without much success in sharp contrast to Sarfaraz’s career stats of 812 runs at a strike-rate of just over 126.

Sharjeel also had a decent strike rate of 133.11 in his 21 T20 internationals but the portly left-handed opener had a poor run since he returned to the national side this year.

Wasim dispelled the impression that Sohaib had been selected not because the powerful right-handed batter had a meeting with the incoming PCB chairman Ramiz Raja, although statistics prove otherwise since Sohaib has a strike-rate of 116.66 across his 26 outings, which compares almost on equal terms with Khushdil’s 109.24 rate of scoring in T20 Internationals.

Commenting on the non-selection of Fakhar, Dahani and Usman, the chief selector said: “They were unlucky to miss out. But having said that Sohaib Maqsood’s ability to bat and perform anywhere in the top-order has given him edge over Fakhar, while the presence of three experienced spinners [Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim and Mohammad Nawaz] who are also capable batters, and five genuine wicket-taking fast bowlers [Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain and Mohammad Wasim] made it difficult for Usman to get into the side. We have also gone for young Wasim rather than Shahnawaz because former can also get quick runs late in the order.”

Wasim was of the view that Pakistan players have good experience of playing in the UAE conditions and that they will would perform well during the World Cup where they brace for a spicy opening-round fixture against old rivals India on Oct 24, while adding Pakistan have the ability to beat Virat Kohli’s side and set a good pace for the remaining matches of the mega event.

“Most of these players know the UAE conditions better than others and it was there Pakistan rose to the No.1 T20 team ranking. In the lead up to the event proper, they will play seven T20s at home, which will take their overall tally this year so far to 24 — the most by any participating country,” he said.

“The home series against New Zealand and England will provide us one final opportunity to fine-tune our [World Cup] preparations. We want ke to win maximum matches so that we can carry the confidence and winning momentum to Dubai.”

On a lighter note, the chief selector refused to speculate on his future once Ramiz takes over as the chairman. ”I can’t say anything at this moment because my focus is on the current assignments and if I am asked to continue I will do. Otherwise, I will leave.”

Squad: Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Mohammad Rizwan, Sohaib Maqsood, Mohammad Hafeez, Asif Ali, Khushdil Shah, Imad Wasim, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Wasim, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Azam Khan.

Travelling reserves: Fakhar Zaman, Shahnawaz Dahani, Usman Qadir.

Published in Dawn, September 7th, 2021