LAHORE: Expressing complete faith in the relatively inexperienced team for the forthcoming Test matches in Ireland and England, Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed on Saturday said the decision to not pick Fawad Alam — a prolific batsman on domestic circuit — for the tour was jointly taken by all stakeholders.

“The playing conditions in England are tough whenever Pakistan tour there. Last year, we went to England in June [for the Champions Trophy] but this time we are going there a bit earlier and there are reports the weather is cold. With veteran batsmen Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq now retired, our team appears relatively inexperienced. However, we are giving confidence to our youngsters who all are excited for the tour, and hopefully they will adjust themselves in time to the playing conditions in England,” Sarfraz said after the short national training camp ended here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday.

“The [selected] team is well balanced and I have full confidence in the potential of each member who can produce impressive results.”

Captain upbeat about team doing well in Ireland and England Tests

The Pakistan squad is scheduled to leave for England on April 23. They would play one-off Test match against debutants Ireland in Dublin from May 11-15 before taking on England in a two-Test rubber from May 24 to June 5 at Lord’s and Headingley.

Later, Pakistan’s Twenty20 International team will compete in Scotland in a two-match series at Edinburgh on June 12 and 13.

Asked if Pakistan’s relatively inexperienced batting line-up could come up to the mark, the captain reckoned if his batsmen could achieve 300-plus, his bowlers had the potential to restrict England and Ireland to low totals which could furnish victory for Pakistan.

To a question, Sarfraz said though Ireland were going to play their debut Test against Pakistan, his team would not be taking the hosts easy who would be enjoying home advantage.

Replying to a barrage of questions on the 32-year-old Fawad Alam — a consistent middle-order batsman on domestic circuit — yet again failing to impress the selection committee, Sarfraz looked quite calm as it seemed he was well prepared for the queries.

“Everyone [concerned] tried his best to contribute towards picking the strongest possible squad for the tour. You have to select 15 or 16 players from 25 probables; so, all could not be selected. But it does not mean he [Fawad] has been overlooked for good. In future contests, everyone will have equal chance of getting selected on the basis of performance,” Sarfraz, 30, maintained.

“The players failing to do well in England will not be selected in future; places will be vacated for others and this is a routine practice, that players come and go,” Sarfraz said, giving some hope to Fawad for future.

When underlined that Pakistan’s inexperienced-looking batting department, having only two experienced pros in Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq, would have become stronger had Fawad been included in the side, Sarfraz maintained the decisions were jointly made.

“Fawad was called to the camp along with 24 other players because he is on our radar. However, he could not be selected in the final 16-member squad which was named after a thorough discussion. But he is still in the line [for selection in future],” Sarfraz, having played 38 Test matches, 85 ODIs and 41 Twenty20 Internationals, said.

“Fawad has no problem with his batting technique and moreover it is also not true that head coach [Mickey Arthur] and chief selector [Inzamam-ul-Haq] had a difference of opinion on the selection of Fawad. Rather it was a joint decision and in the end the best team was selected for the tour,” the skipper, who also has his say in the selection of national team, stressed.

On whether he, as captain, used his vote in Fawad’s favour, Sarfraz reiterated that not including the left-handed batsman was a unanimous decision.

As Fawad, the skipper noted, had last featured in a Test match way back in 2009, the criteria for selection was also in favour to give chance to the cricketers who had been regularly playing for national team.

Responding to a question about the selection of one spinner — Shadab Khan — in the 16-member squad, Sarfraz underlined that the team also had part-time spinners in Asad and Haris Sohail.

However, he added, leg-spinner Yasir Shah would have been the lone choice for selection, but as he was not fit, Shadab was selected.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan squad visited Wagah Border late Saturday afternoon to watch the traditional national flag ceremony featuring personnel of Pakistan Rangers and members of India’s Border Security Force on the other side of the border.

Sarfraz said the visit was undertaken to instill motivation into the players before they embarked upon the tour to England.

Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2018