Pakistan selectors rethink World T20 squad as youngsters impress in PSL
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Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Gul getting into rhythm at the Pakistan Super League (PSL) may have been cause for great celebration for the two players. But their performances have created a few headaches for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) which has delayed naming its World Twenty20 squad.
Twenty20 cricket's mega event will be held in India from March 8 to April 3, and the International Cricket Council (ICC) had set February 8 as the deadline for naming squads for the tournament. But it emerged on Monday that the PCB had requested the world governing body to give them more time.
A source in the ICC confirmed to Dawn that the PCB had been granted two more days to finalise their World T20 squad.
“Pakistan had approached us with a request to be granted a few more days to name their World T20 squad. They have now been given a new deadline which is February 10,” the ICC official told Dawn.
According to a member of the national selection committee, the PCB had finalised the squad for the event but the team management wanted to gauge the performances of Shehzad and Gul at the PSL before naming its 15-man squad.
Shehzad has experienced a drastic dip in form in recent times and his T20 outings against New Zealand only weakened his case for World T20 selection. The opener score 18, 9, 8 in the three matches against Kane Williamson's side.
But the 24-year-old smashed 71 off 46 balls in Quetta Gladiators' rout of Karachi Kings in the PSL on Saturday to create a selection dilemma for a Pakistan side struggling to find reliable openers.
Shehzad's Quetta teammate Gul, who was hammered in New Zealand after making a comeback to the Pakistan side following a lengthy lay off due to injury, has had a mixed PSL campaign. He has figures of 1/30, 0/41 and 2/19 in the three matches he has played so far.
But the failure of the team management to find a suitable partner for Mohammad Amir in the pace attack means Gul may yet get a look in for the World T20.
In the World T20, Pakistan are grouped with India, Australia, New Zealand but the Shahid Afridi's men kicks off their campaign against a qualifier on March 16.
Shehzad hammers Karachi
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Comments (63) Closed
Feb 08, 2016 07:57pm
Please no Ahmed Shezad
To score against our own bowler some times easy
He always flop in a big tournaments
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Feb 08, 2016 07:57pm
What is the performance of Shahid Afridi?
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Feb 08, 2016 08:02pm
My Squad is Hafeez, Sarfraz, Rizwan, Babar Azam, Umer Akmal, Shahid afridi,, Shoib Malik, Imad Wassem, Irfan, Muhammad amir, Wahab, Anwar, Muhammad Nawaz, Sharjeel, Ajmal
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Feb 08, 2016 08:04pm
What ???? One innings from Ahmed Shehzad is going to earn him a place in the team again?? No.... they cannot be a serious.
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Feb 08, 2016 08:04pm
Again selecting Shahzad only for one knock?? This is ridiculous.
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Feb 08, 2016 08:07pm
Agreed Abdul Ghaffar .... its a delibrat attempt to include Ahmad Shehzad, Umar Akmal and S Maqsood.
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Feb 08, 2016 08:14pm
scoring against Kiwi bowlers on fast bouncy pitches is huge different than in dead pitches and against normal bowling
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Feb 08, 2016 08:20pm
If Sarfraz is sent to open with Hafeez, this will create room for additional batsman or all rounder at 6 or 7.
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Feb 08, 2016 08:22pm
Afridi should be out as he is good for nothing.
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Feb 08, 2016 08:23pm
Squad
Shahid Afridi (C), Mohammad Rizwan (Wk), Umar Akmal , Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Amir, Junaid Khan, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Irfaan, Imaad Waseem, Shoaib Malik, Babar Azam, Sarfaraz Ahmad (Wk), Saeed Ajmal, Mukhtar Ahmad.
First Choice XI
1) Mohammad Hafeez 2) Sarfaraz Ahmad 3) Umar Akmal 4) Shoaib Malik 5) Mohammad Nawaz 6) Imaad Waseem 7) Mohammad Rizwan 8) Shahid Afridi 9) Mohammad Amir 10) Junaid Khan 11) Saeed Ajmal
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Feb 08, 2016 08:26pm
Why cant Pakistan find batsmen of international quality. We always are 3 wickets down for 50 runs. Thereafter its fire fighting to survive.
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Feb 08, 2016 08:26pm
Ahmed Shehzad does not deserve a chance in T20. He should not be even thinking about it, he has disappointed with performance in cricket field but impressed so many with he selfies.
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Feb 08, 2016 08:28pm
i think sarfaraz should be repleced with rizwan as wicket keeper, and a new batsman powerfull hitter should be added to the squad. rizwan can hit sixes while sarfaraz dont have the power. sarfaraz is excellent odi and test batsman, but not t20. pakistan needs power hitter which is currently lacking.
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Feb 08, 2016 08:28pm
Mohammad Asghar definitely deserves a chance.
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Feb 08, 2016 08:28pm
Select Muhammad Asghar - he is turning the ball as well as several heads and will be good on Indian pitches.
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Feb 08, 2016 08:29pm
Neither Umar Gul nor Shehzad. They need to consistently prove their mettle. It shows they have talent but no discipline.
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Feb 08, 2016 08:40pm
Conditions in UAE are different. In T20 world cup in India, every team will be making close to 200 runs.
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Feb 08, 2016 08:41pm
If the performances in PSL are anything to go by, then surely Nawaz from Quetta and Asghar from Peshawar need to be considered/included.
Ahmed Shehzad has had one good innings in last 10. He scored 71 versus Karachi, but in the other 9 games, he scored a total of 115 runs. 3 out 9 times, he didn't get to 10 runs.
When did get to 10 runs or more, 5 out of 6 times, he didn't get beyond 16 runs.
And his best was only 30.
Just because he has pummeled some Pakistani bowlers in Dubai, doesn't necessarily mean he is back to plundering runs against the likes of India, Australia or NZ.
In fact in NZ, he scored a total of 33 runs in T20I's at an average of 11.
Question is not so much about Shehzad being in form; more about who else can take his place right now.
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Feb 08, 2016 08:45pm
@Majid Khan he can ball better than others
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Feb 08, 2016 08:48pm
Select the oldies for one last hurrah. Its not as if they gonna win the trophy anyway. They will be extremely lucky to get past group stage.
Then select the new breed of younsters,
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Feb 08, 2016 08:52pm
Seriously? The selectors think the pitches at the World T20 would be similar to UAE pitches?
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Feb 08, 2016 08:53pm
Performing in one match out of 15+ matches does not makes you a player. Please don't waste a opportunity to give a chance to other deserving youngster. After Saeed Awar PCB has failed miserably to find a Start Opener
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Feb 08, 2016 08:54pm
Ahmed Shahzad is very very brilliant batsman. He should be given a chance. No batsman in the world can match him in terms of strike rate. He will definitely prove himself and brings world t20 cup for us. please pcb give him a chance.
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Feb 08, 2016 08:59pm
Shahzad coming back to form in one match is bad news as he will now be selected for the next 10 matches and he will fail every time.
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Feb 08, 2016 09:09pm
@Lafanga
Steady on boss. Ahmed Shehzad has a strike rate of 115.88.
Virat Kohli is at 136.51, and Aaron Finch is over 150.
Ahmed Shehzad probably just about makes it into the top 50 in terms of strike rate - so I am not sure how you can say 'no batsman in the world can match him in terms of strike rate'.
Can you please advise where you get your statistics from.
Mine are from: http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/records/282920.html
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Feb 08, 2016 09:14pm
@Lafanga
Apparently you have been watching re-runs of the game he scored 71 runs. Watch some other games where he didn't impress at all.
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Feb 08, 2016 09:22pm
I will recommend Rumman Raees, Asghar and Nawaz
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Feb 08, 2016 09:28pm
Ahmad Shezad is not a cricketer .... 1 time he hits 50 runs in last 200 matches and you think he has a chance ... that is why ur standards are low ... you plan for losing ... include Mohammad Asghar and you would see improvement ...
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Feb 08, 2016 09:29pm
@Shuja Pakhliwal
You are best fit for current PCB
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Feb 08, 2016 09:35pm
Muhammad Nawaz and Asghar should be included. No Ahmed Shehzad...
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Feb 08, 2016 09:35pm
Hafeez, Shehzad, Sarfraz, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Afridi, Mohammad Nawaz, Anwer Ali, Imad Wasim, Sohail Tanvir, Mohammad Amir
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Feb 08, 2016 09:42pm
Get some decent wicketkeeper. SARFRAZ is the worst wicketkeeper while keeping to spinners. The ball always pops out of his hands and he drops at least one catch in every match.
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Feb 08, 2016 09:47pm
Pakistan Cricket Team through PSL: Not only the players competancy on test but the PCB and selectors are at great exposure in defending their choice of players to be included in the team. PSL will expose bright side of the coin than the darker one!
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Feb 08, 2016 10:00pm
Good to know that Pakistan is participating in T20 WC in India.
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Feb 08, 2016 10:42pm
Shehzad should be selected and given an open license as oppose to what he has been made by the coach. Umar Akmal needs to bat at 3 if Pak is going to the next round. My squad is as follows;
Playing XI: Hafeez, Sarfaraz (wk), Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Babar Azam, Rizwan, Nawaz, Imad Wasim, Shahif Afridi, Amir, Junaid Khan
Reserves: Shehzad, Wahab Riaz, Ajmal
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Feb 08, 2016 10:44pm
If Pakistani selectors want inclusion of Ahmed Shezad, he has weaknesses and as an opener will prove suicidal, lower order perhaps. Umar Akmal is a definite yes middle order but Gul usually is expensive conceding too many runs. Whatever is the team composition, youngsters Mohammed Namaz and Mohammed Asghar deserve an outing, as bith equal the best of world class Pakistani spinners. Ajmal is not his best but as it is T20 is for younger players and that too super fit.
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Feb 08, 2016 10:57pm
Mohammad Asghar-Mohammad Nazwaz & Rumman Raees should be on the list!
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Feb 08, 2016 11:04pm
One match performance does no justify Shazed inclusion. Don't demoralize other players just because one or two players have one or two decent innings. Go with the original selection. This is the weakest T-20 team Pakistan has ever prepared for the tournament. Our bowling and fielding are at its lowest point and bating is very inconsistent. I will be happy if Pakistan reach to semi finals.
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Feb 08, 2016 11:10pm
Yes PCB rethink. The likes of Aridi, Irfan, Gul, ..have played enough. Let them rest.
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Feb 08, 2016 11:40pm
Mohammad Sami is currently the best bowler in Pakistan. Period. Had he been playing as a second bowler, with someone complementing him from the other end, he would still be playing.
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Feb 09, 2016 12:18am
I think Razzaq and Misbah should be brough back and probably Akmals
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Feb 09, 2016 12:19am
1st Our cricketers play for money only.
2nd they only give performance only when they feel their presence in team threatened.
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Feb 09, 2016 12:51am
Pakistan are in a very real danger of going down like SL after Hafeez, Misbah, Younis retire. Bowling alone cannot win test matches.
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Feb 09, 2016 12:54am
My Squad is Hafeez, Sarfraz, Babar Azam, Umer Akmal, Shahid afridi,, Shoib Malik, Imad Wassem, Irfan, Muhammad amir, Wahab, Anwar, Muhammad Nawaz, Sharjeel, Ajmal & Asghar
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Feb 09, 2016 01:40am
Ahmed played good against spinners on dead pitches
Just give chance to new players
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Feb 09, 2016 02:49am
As usual 1 performance and you are im team. By the way what shehzad scored since that 71? I think Imaad has a competition. He is batting ok but his bowling has been below average. M Nawaz looks good. ZAFAR and Asghar arevother left arm all rounders. But stats of nawaz are very improessive. Other than that may be Ajmal. He seems in rythem. Psl so far is typical pakistani event. Only 2 50s by pak batsmen and both are ever inconsistent ahmed and akmal. Thrn only few 40s. But in bowling zafar, asghar, nawaz are future kids to look for
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Feb 09, 2016 02:57am
Get rid of Afridi. He is highly over rated player who performs well in one game followed by utter failure in next many games. We have talented newcomers as evidenced by their performance in PSL. Give them a chance. We may not win the upcoming T20 World Cup but by including more youngsters , we'll be preparing a very strong team for the future.
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Feb 09, 2016 03:59am
@arshad ----why Akmal???????????
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Feb 09, 2016 04:04am
@Shahid ---no Akmal bro.
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Feb 09, 2016 04:10am
... and so the never ending musical chairs continue, resulting in another debacle. What's new?
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Feb 09, 2016 04:17am
Why are they fixated with Ahmed Shehzad??? Why not bring in some other performing youngster, like Sami Aslam. I was just surprised that one of the brightest young talents in the country is not even playing in the PSL. What a shame!!!
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Feb 09, 2016 05:19am
@Tanweer Khan : lafanga was probably just being sarcastic. Dont take it too seriously.
Obviously everyone knows kohli is way ahead of shahzad !
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Feb 09, 2016 05:21am
T20 needs players that can bat,and field. Bowlers that can bowl and field, and bat a bit.
No Maqsood, and no Irfan, these two can't bat , field, and Irfan is not a good T20 bowler.
Some of the new boys should be tried
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Feb 09, 2016 07:08am
@khan Are you taking about same Rizwan who pats the ball and just takes off without looking either at the ball or the partner. Twice so far!
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Feb 09, 2016 07:34am
No Afridi no Shazad no Gul please. Give some chances to young lads.
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Feb 09, 2016 07:36am
What rethink and what selection? PCB chairman and selectors have no morality, ethic neither they care about merit or performance. They are blot on Pakistan cricket, sucking the blood of Pakistan for their own good. These people select team on basis of Parchi, Safarish, connections, provincialism, like, dislike or Bribe. All the drama they do is just to make fool of Pakistanis, so that Pakistanis think the team belongs to them and thus are selected on merit.
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Feb 09, 2016 09:19am
My Team, Playing 11, Hafeez, Sharjeel, Sarfraz, Nawaz, Umer Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Kamaran Akmal, , Shahid Afridi, Zafar Gohar, Aamir, Ruman Raees, Reserve, Asghar, Wahab Riaz, Ahmed Shahzad, Khalid Latif. Please don't include Imad Wasim (a spinner who can't spin a bowl), Irfan (who now bowls only at 120 kph, can't bat, can't feild), Anwar Ali (who is neither a decent bowler nor a batsman) and Umer Gul.
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Feb 09, 2016 09:20am
Please no Umar Gul. His economy is generally higher than 10 per over in the last 2 years. The kind of bowling he is doing, as exemplified in yesterday match where he leaked 50 runs, is just not suitable for Pakistan's cause.
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Feb 09, 2016 09:43am
@analyses I fully agree with your comments. Umar Gul is not at all sitable. He gives a lot of runs and you can support that argument with his bowling figures in the past.
If he gets a wicket, it is just a mistake of the batsman and not his bowling capability. Most of the time he pitches the ball either short of lenght, full-length or an ineffective bouncer. All his yorker length balls end up as full-toss. Please do not make a blunder of selecting him.
Dr. Rashid Ansari
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Feb 09, 2016 11:02am
Why are they selecting the team PCB said they will not play in india.
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Feb 10, 2016 02:06pm
@arshad Asghar will be a good choice.
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Feb 10, 2016 02:43pm
@RJ All rounder and spinner should be selected fot t20 2016 world Cup. Mir
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Feb 10, 2016 04:59pm
@Saima khan u r right
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