LAHORE: While congratulating Yasir Shah on setting the world record for fastest 200 wickets in Test cricket, chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq on Thursday said the leg-spinner could be considered for ODI duty.

“Yasir did a remarkable job by breaking an old world record and [therefore] the selectors are now considering a proposal to test his skills in ODI cricket too,” Inzamam said while talking to reporters at the LCCA ground here on Thursday after distributing prizes on the conclusion of a club cricket tournament.

Yasir, 32, achieved the feat by dismissing William Somerville in the ongoing third Test against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi on Thursday morning.

The stocky Pakistani spinner broke the 82-year long Test record held by Australian leg-spinner Clarrie Grimmett, who reached the 200-wicket mark in the 36th Test, by reaching the mark in his 33rd Test.

Since making his ODI debut in 2011 against Zimbabwe at Harare, the Swabi-born Yasir has so far featured in only 19 ODIs in which the spinner, who holds a phenomenal record in five-day format, has claimed only 19 wickets at an expensive average of 42.47. He last appeared in an ODI in July this year against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo.

To a question, Inzamam said the national squad for the upcoming tour of South Africa would be announced soon, adding injuries to dashing opener Fakhar Zaman and prolific pacer Mohammad Abbas were not of serious nature.

Answering a question, the chief selector said veteran all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez did not face any sort of pressure to announce retirement from Test cricket. He added, “It is a good tradition that the Pakistan players are taking such decisions on their own.”

To a question, Inzamam dispelled the impression that the national selection committee was giving preference to the cricketers of a certain province, while ignoring talented players from Karachi.

“All players are equal to me and I select every cricketer on merit instead of giving priority to any region.”

However, as human being, Inzamam admitted, he could make mistakes in selecting players.

“But I would not do it deliberately. The captain of the present national team is from Karachi. [This shows] such allegations have no basis.”

To a question about the future of pacer Mohammad Amir currently sidelined from national team, Inzamam said the left-armer was a talented bowler and had been given rest. “He will be given chance in future too.”

Though Inzamam claimed that he preferred cricketers on their performance, when asked about spot-fixing convict Salman Butt, Inzamam said the opener had done well in domestic cricket and he would also get a chance.

It is pertinent to mention here that the chief selector has been issuing such statements about Salman for the last one year, as the former captain is cleared for selection after completing the spot-fixing ban imposed on him by the ICC.

“The selectors have no instructions from the PCB not to select Salman, and we will select him whenever there is a need,” he said.

To a query about some talented players from Pakistan ‘A’ squad getting overlooked, Inzamam said Abid Ali and Usman Salahuddin were talented and they would be given chances in future.

Published in Dawn, December 7th, 2018