Wahab, Amir make it to 15-man World Cup squad

Published May 20, 2019
Experienced fast bowler Mohammad Amir and pacer Wahab Riaz have been included in the final Pakistani squad for the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup announced by chief selector Inzamamul Haq on Monday. — DawnNewsTV/File
Experienced fast bowler Mohammad Amir and pacer Wahab Riaz have been included in the final Pakistani squad for the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup announced by chief selector Inzamamul Haq on Monday. — DawnNewsTV/File

Chief Selector Inzamamul Haq at a press conference on Monday announced that fast bowler Mohammad Amir and pacer Wahab Riaz have made the final 15-man World Cup squad as the team seeks to "inject experience" into its bowling.

Both the players had been left off the initial squad named in April but the chief selector today said that some observations made during the team's recent performance in England were taken into consideration when making the changes to the lineup.

Referring to the team's stint in England, Inzamam said that the green shirts could have racked up 50-60 more runs ─ or restricted the other side to that many fewer runs ─ if they had improved their fielding and taken more catches.

He also explained that the "bowling unit during the England ODIs had not clicked as anticipated or expected".

He said that the team needed bowlers familiar with reverse swing and using an old ball as they had realised in the series that such an ability would be effective.

"Wahab Riaz is an effective bowler. We have given him this opportunity," Inzamam said.

Read more: Mickey Arthur didn’t select Wahab Riaz due to his dreary ‘training work ethic’

He added: "Amir's name was not in the squad earlier [...] He is one of our senior bowlers and has a lot of experience in England conditions."

Amir was not selected in the preliminary squad for the World Cup due to poor form, but after the Pakistan bowling attack’s drubbing in the first two England ODIs, critics pointed out Pakistan were missing Amir.

"If we have at our disposal two vastly experienced pace duo of Amir and Wahab, then it will be foolish not to include them," Inzamam said.

Inzamam also said Abid Ali would be replaced by Asif Ali due to the latter's solid batting performance in England.

"It was not an easy decision to replace Abid Ali [...] But we wanted someone in that position who could nudge the run rate along," the chief selector explained.

He added that Shadab Khan is also fit to play in the World Cup squad. Due to the latest changes, Junaid Khan, Faheem Ashraf and Abid Ali will be left off the squad.

Ashraf had been given chances in the five-match ODI series against England, while Abid has not been tested in any of the matches — including against county sides — in England so far.

15-man World Cup squad

Openers:

  • Fakhar Zaman
  • Imamul Haq

Middle-order batsmen:

  • Asif Ali
  • Mohammad Hafeez
  • Babar Azam
  • Sarfaraz Ahmed (captain)
  • Haris Sohail
  • Shoaib Malik

Spinners:

  • Imad Wasim
  • Shadab Khan

Fast Bowlers:

  • Hasan Ali
  • Shaheen Shah Afridi
  • Mohammad Amir
  • Wahab Riaz
  • Mohammad Hasnain

Opinion

Editorial

Weathering the storm
Updated 29 Apr, 2024

Weathering the storm

Let 2024 be the year when we all proactively ensure that our communities are safeguarded and that the future is secure against the inevitable next storm.
Afghan repatriation
29 Apr, 2024

Afghan repatriation

COMPARED to the roughshod manner in which the caretaker set-up dealt with the issue, the elected government seems a...
Trying harder
29 Apr, 2024

Trying harder

IT is a relief that Pakistan managed to salvage some pride. Pakistan had taken the lead, then fell behind before...
Return to the helm
Updated 28 Apr, 2024

Return to the helm

With Nawaz Sharif as PML-N president, will we see more grievances being aired?
Unvaxxed & vulnerable
Updated 28 Apr, 2024

Unvaxxed & vulnerable

Even deadly mosquito-borne illnesses like dengue and malaria have vaccines, but they are virtually unheard of in Pakistan.
Gaza’s hell
Updated 28 Apr, 2024

Gaza’s hell

Perhaps Western ‘statesmen’ may moderate their policies if a significant percentage of voters punish them at the ballot box.