Dawn.com survey: Fawad, Haris both make the cut in World Cup 15

E-Paper | June 14, 2026

Fawad Alam and Haris Sohail both made the cut while the experienced fast bowler Umar Gul also got the nod in a Dawn.com readers' selected Pakistan squad for the upcoming World Cup.

In the Dawn.com survey, readers overwhelmingly backed Misbah-ul-Haq as the right choice to lead Pakistan at the big event which kicks off from February 14.

Analysis: The playing XI: Balance will be Pakistan's biggest concern

Mohammad Hafeez, who has been banned from bowling by the ICC for an illegal bowling action, did not find favour with the readers who rejected the Pakistan Cricket Board selectors' assessment of the 34-year-old player a 'specialist opener' in the World Cup squad of 15.

Interestingly, six players, Ahmed Shehzad, Misbah-ul Haq, Mohammad Irfan, Junaid Khan, Shahid Afridi, Sarfraz Ahmad, were the core players in the squad for all the 2867 respondents in the survey.

When the survey posed the question 'Is Haris Sohail a better option than Fawad Alam?' to the readers, responders appeared slightly uncertain. 41% of the readers voted for Haris edged, 31% for Fawad while 21% were 'not sure.'

Also read: Sohail has gate-crashed the World Cup party: Rashid Latif

The results backed the make up of the bowling attack which includes five fast bowlers, although the combination of fast men picked by the selectors could have been different, according to the readers.

The fast bowlers picked for the squad are Mohammad Irfan, Junaid Khan, Ehsan Adil, Sohail Khan, Wahab Riaz.

The surprise pick Sohail Khan was a hit with some on Dawn.com's interactive forums while many readers believed Umar Gul and Mohammad Talha should have been preferred over Sohail and Ehsan Adil.

The reader's selected squad of 15 for the World Cup

Ahmed Shehzad, Misbah-ul Haq, Mohammad Irfan, Junaid Khan, Shahid Afridi, Sarfraz Ahmad, Umar Akmal, Younis Khan, Sohaib Maqsood, Haris Sohail, Fawad Alam, Yasir Shah, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Hafeez, Umar Gul

Readers' total votes

Pakistan, placed in Group B, will open their campaign with a highly-charged clash against arch-rivals and defending champions India in Adelaide on February 15.

This will be followed by matches against the West Indies, Zimbabwe, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa and Ireland.

The top four teams from each of the two groups will qualify for the quarter-finals, leading up to the final in Melbourne on March 29.

Click here to see the survey and live results in full

Our readers are at the heart of everything we do.
Do you have a thought to share or a way we can improve? We’d love to hear it. Reach out to us at feedback@dawn.com.

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Hakim

Jan 09, 2015 04:14pm

With the current squad, Pakistan stand no chance of advancing to the next round.

Recommend 0

Zafar Iqbal Tayyab

Jan 09, 2015 04:17pm

Nation's selection surpasses National Selection Committtee's selection.

Recommend 0

A Pakistani

Jan 09, 2015 04:19pm

Absolutely useless survey as Fawad alam should be compared with Hafeez, Younis and Umar Akmal. Fawad alam and Haris Sohail should be an automatic choice based on performance.

Recommend 0

A Pakistani

Jan 09, 2015 04:40pm

Our bowling attack: Junaid Khan- just recovered from injury (Hope he will not play like umar gul). Irfan-Can be unfit at any time . Ehsan Adil- Never played in past many series. Sohail Khan - Never played ome day international in last 3 years. Yasir Shah - Never played any one day international in last 3 years. Only Wahab Riaz who is so brilliant but only in the eyes PCB. Well done selectors your planning and choices are brilliant with no match... :):):):):)

Recommend 0

Clown

Jan 09, 2015 04:43pm

There is no fire power, I believe shoaib Maliki should be in the squad. He has been playing in Australia and is well adapted to their conditions, he will be useful but our selectors don't think outside the box.

Recommend 0

responsible

Jan 09, 2015 05:03pm

Fawad is deserving to be in playing 11. No Hafeez in survey. However, I understand, his % will be 0%

Recommend 0

Malik Murad

Jan 09, 2015 05:06pm

My concern or query is that "Do the selectors or anyone in PCB read these analysis?". Will this reach to their ears? The selection of a deserving player who has performed well at both domestic and intl. levels, has to be justified to the selection panel and PCB.

Recommend 0

Kumail

Jan 09, 2015 05:20pm

Fawad should be in the team instead of Hafeez.

Recommend 0

AAK

Jan 09, 2015 05:26pm

why Hafeez??? Fawad alam is far better option

Recommend 0

AAK

Jan 09, 2015 05:27pm

@A Pakistani No Selection only personal liking of selectors

Recommend 0

Muhammad Sadiq

Jan 09, 2015 05:31pm

I just dont understand why people are saying that the squad isnt good and the team has no chance. Look at results dawn has published above! Majority of the players reader have voted for are already in the 15-men squad. its unfortunate Fawad Alam is not there but it doesnt mean that we start believing that Pakistan cant win this. We can bring back Wasim, waqar and shoaib. The quality we have is in the squad. We must believe in them and encourage them to bring the cup back to Pakistan! One last thing...one cant make everyone happy. Javed miandad wanted Shoaib malik and he is unhappy...while the rest of Pakistan is very happy :D

Recommend 0

Mudassar Siddiq

Jan 09, 2015 05:32pm

Sorry situation for Fawad Alam lovers. Haris Sohail is preferred on Fawad by Majority. I think a vast silent majority is not in the favor of Fawad Alam.

Recommend 0

Saood

Jan 09, 2015 06:25pm

Fawad should be in for Hafeez and Raza Hassan for Ehsan Adil.

Recommend 0

Saima

Jan 09, 2015 07:14pm

Why Sohail Khan isn't even on your graphic listing? I also don't understand why everyone thinks that Sohail Khan is a surprise pick while it should be Ehsan Adil. Sohail Khan can, at least justify his selection as he is the top wicket taker both in the QA trophy and Pentangular cup. On what grounds did they select Ehsan? Only because he plays for Misbah's Faisal Abad. Yasir Shah has been a total failure in ODs. Why didn't they take Raza Hasan who recently scored a century and a fifty and is a better bowler in limited over games.

Recommend 0

faisal

Jan 09, 2015 08:20pm

In a way its good for Fawad. Everybody knows Pakistan stands no chance of winning this world cup. 92 was different situation, you had highly talented team with solid fighting captain. So once this world cup is over there are going to be firings and retirements. Fawad's worth will be realized then.

Recommend 0

faisal

Jan 09, 2015 08:21pm

if Sohail and Adil were supposed to be part of WC squad then they should have been played against Australia and NZ. What was the point trying out other guys and then picking these two?

Recommend 0

Malik sb

Jan 09, 2015 09:02pm

@Hakim Its the time to encourage our team, think a bit positively man.

Recommend 0

Imran B.

Jan 09, 2015 10:15pm

Fawad Alam is much better allrounder and trusted player. He should be and must be included and played every game. Do not compare him with Haris Sohail. He is at the level of Sr. player.

Recommend 0

Canadawala

Jan 10, 2015 08:15am

@Hakim At least quarter final is sure. Rest they have to win only next three matches. That is All.

Recommend 0

saqib

Jan 10, 2015 10:26am

Irrespective of domestic players performance the selection is pretty acceptable except minor changes. As every one is criticizing the ommision of Fawad Alam, he could be the best replacement against Sohaib Maqsood, Sohaib has not played and performed in recent season even he is not fit, with these facts i am unable to understand his selection. The second option where Fawad could be picked is against Umar Akmal whose performance is also not good in Int. as well as in domestic. Beside Fawad, Anwar ali should also be selected because he could bowled, can bat better and even a very good fielder. He should be given a chance against Ehsan adil or Wahab Riaz

Recommend 0

Saleem

Jan 12, 2015 03:42pm

@Imran B. Forget being all rounder, Fawad has 16th highest ODI average of all ODI players in world ODI history, and has second highest average for a Pakistani after Zaheer. Fawad strike rate is also better than most Pakistani openers and middle order batsmen. Fawad is also one of the best Pakistani fielder, and was most suited for World cup in Australia where grounds are large, as Fawad is good in rotating strikes and ball placement to score singles and doubles, something most other Pakistani players cannot do and in large Australian grounds that would be difference between scoring runs to increase run-rate and not scoring runs, http://stats.espncricinfo.com/wi/content/records/282911.html

Recommend 0

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