ISLAMABAD: Chief selector Haroon Rasheed on Wednesday rejected all speculations regarding Ahmed Shahzad having disciplinary issues which resulted in the ouster of the opener from the ODI squad for the ongoing series against England.

According to speculative reports, head coach Waqar Younis and other members of the team management had benched 23-year-old Shehzad for the ODI rubber in the UAE due to the right-handed opener’s improper conduct.

However, Haroon rejecting this very impression said Shehzad had not been dropped from the ODIs due to his behaviour or any disciplinary issue.

“Shehzad was dropped from the ODIs as he didn’t make a place in the playing XI,” Haroon said, adding it’s only the media that had created hype into the matter and nothing else.

Waqar, Haroon claimed, had said that Shehzad was dropped from the ODIs as he didn’t make a place in the playing XI and will be included in the team whenever he earns a place.

Shehzad, who made ODI debut back in 2009 against Australia at Dubai, has featured in 72 one-dayers so far scoring 2,472 runs at the average of 34.81. He has amassed six hundreds and 13 half-centuries. In 2015, Shehzad collected 557 runs (average 34.81) with the help of four half-centuries in 16 ODI outings.

When asked whether Shehzad would play in the T20 series against England in the UAE as he was named in the squad, Haroon said: “Our duty is to pick the 15-member team; it is up to the team management whether to include Shehzad in the playing XI.”

Speaking on the chances of Umar Akmal’s selection in the T20 squad, Haroon said the batsman’s case was with PCB chairman and a decision on it was yet to be taken.

Published in Dawn, November 19th, 2015