'Gagged' Junaid Khan shares cryptic photo after being axed from World Cup squad

Dawn.com Abdul Ghaffar Published May 20, 2019

Junaid Khan was axed from the World Cup squad today after two uninspired performances in a series where almost every bowler failed. — Photo courtesy: Junaid Khan/Twitter

After he was axed from the World Cup 2019 squad, fast bowler Junaid Khan on Monday shared a cryptic photo of himself with his mouth sealed shut with black tape.

Junaid, Abid Ali and Faheem Ashraf formed the trio that lost their spots on the 15-man roster when Chief Selector Inzamamul Haq announced the final squad today for the big tournament.

They were replaced by pacers Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz — the former who has two wickets in his last 10 ODIs and the latter who has not played an ODI in two years and whom coach Mickey Arthur had famously discarded "for not winning the team any matches in years".

Junaid did not impress in his two outings against England either, leaking runs at a high rate in both but he appears to have reservations over his ouster in favour of a duo that itself has question marks all over it.

"I don't want to say anything. Truth is bitter," he tweeted along with the photo.

PCB takes notice; Junaid deletes tweet

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) took notice of the tweet but decided not to take any "immediate action" against Junaid as it did not want to stir up a controversy so close to the World Cup, well-informed sources within the board told DawnNewsTV.

The PCB source said that while the players are free to use social media, the guidelines provided to them bind them to not tweets "things that are against the spirit of the game".

Junaid later deleted the tweet.

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Zamrez Mirza

May 20, 2019 07:51pm

"I don't want to say anything because truth is bitter, but cricket is all about me."

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mansoor

May 20, 2019 07:55pm

All members of the team were given enough chances. Both Husnain and Shaheen grabbed those chances which came their way and are in team While the man in question was toothless, ineffective and leaked runs. He should retire from international duties and concentrate on 20-20 career.

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Yasio

May 20, 2019 07:58pm

In last match he gave above 80

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Malik Saab

May 20, 2019 08:01pm

I hope Pakistan will lose the world cup. One world cup of 92 has already taken a toll on us. We cannot afford another bad karma for the next generation.

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Dr.M.S.Awan

May 20, 2019 08:02pm

This is in a bad taste and calls for a disciplinary action by PCP.I do agree that players have a right to dissent,but to me this is defiance.

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Sayyar Khan

May 20, 2019 08:03pm

Well you were the worse of all bowlers in this series but yeh the 2 given chance are not better. Not sure why Shinwari was not given any chance.

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Reality_sucks

May 20, 2019 08:03pm

What a team player!!!

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Dilber Jonnny

May 20, 2019 08:08pm

Another 'game changer' who wants to be in the news for wrong reasons.

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HashBrown®

May 20, 2019 08:08pm

I don't want to say anything, so I'm sending out this tweet to say that I don't want to say anything.

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Pakistani

May 20, 2019 08:13pm

This sums it up! Today's Pakistani cricketers dont have the capability to take failures. They mentally weak and psychologically weak no wonder bowlers like Ju aid Khan get spanked around! I watched the two games Junaid and being the most experience bowler out there he was absolutely average. Therefore, deserves to be dropped. Now go back man up and make a come back like a sports man rather than complaining on Twitter!

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May 20, 2019 08:14pm

He is an ordinary bowler. Why is he moaning about? Look at your records and then share such hilarious photos.

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Sammy

May 20, 2019 08:16pm

His exclusion is a blunder, atleast he can target the stumps, Wahab is excruciatingly one dimensional. Even English bowlers were slaughtered this time, dont know what Inzi is thinking.

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Nadim Akhtar

May 20, 2019 08:20pm

Every team management has to make these difficult decisions and they are not necessarily biased. Apart from Babar Azam one could challenge every other position in the team and come up with an equally talented alternative. Even the cricketing experts different views. You have to make a decision and unfortunately we will live in a society where corruption and nepotism is rife and therefore, suspicion only natural.

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Rohail

May 20, 2019 08:28pm

Simply if Junaid represented Punjab, the outcome would have been different.

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

May 20, 2019 08:33pm

What else can he say or do to save his skin, avoid being sacked for saying the truth, remain afloat, make his presence felt, spread his message of despair and disappointment, get counted and remain in the media limelight?

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khabboo

May 20, 2019 08:35pm

Amir and Wahab have not played in the current series. On what basis have they been chosen?? Faheem has also been removed, but Faheem can bat a little too.

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Dr. Mizaa

May 20, 2019 08:38pm

Junaid shud be in the world cup squad.

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Faisal

May 20, 2019 08:44pm

Replacing Junaid with Wahab is a big question mark. I hope inzi has the courage to resign once this wc campaign meets it's logical failure.

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Coffee_Wala

May 20, 2019 08:44pm

Drama Queen! He is no Wasim Akram! in 8 years he has played just 22 tests. Average stock bowler who occasionally bowls well - that's who he is!. And look at the attitude!

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Shib

May 20, 2019 08:49pm

This is a competitive world...Your performance speaks louder than words...No need of sheding tears...

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Vimal Raina

May 20, 2019 09:01pm

@Malik Saab, great thought

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Saad Khalid

May 20, 2019 09:02pm

Lack of professionalism. We need to groom our players better. Humilating us infront of the world.

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shehzad

May 20, 2019 09:13pm

His bowling was not that great. His outster was justified though.

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Azim Quadir

May 20, 2019 09:21pm

So, Abid Ali and Faheem Ashraf should also tape their mouth?

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Ahmad Zubairi

May 20, 2019 09:24pm

I understand his pain however soon England will make the same hard choice of dropping a good fast bowler to accommodate Archer and I will see how that bowler responds. Junaid has a long career he should focus on that. As for Wahab it is hit and miss will see what performance he turns up with.

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Guzni

May 20, 2019 09:26pm

He was dropped as currently he was out of form. World Cup is a challenge, not a series.

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Guzni

May 20, 2019 09:28pm

@khabboo, that is wahy we lost 4-0

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Ibrar Malik

May 20, 2019 09:28pm

Dear Junaid, Plz look at your figures in the matches you played in Eng. You should announce retirement from intl’ cricket.

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Danish

May 20, 2019 09:43pm

Tough luck Junaid. To replace him with Amir (who has taken a handful of wickets in 2 years), Wahab (who hasn’t played in two years) and Hassnain (who is very inexperienced and immature bowler) is quite unfair. Wahab and Amir getting the benefit of not playing in the England series. I’m sure they would’ve had the same treatment at Junaid, Faheem and Shaheen, if not worse

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Omar

May 20, 2019 09:43pm

Last three matches 1/79, 1/57, 1/85.....his performance speaks louder than whatever he's trying to convey.

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N_Saq

May 20, 2019 09:43pm

Amir is automatic selection, however, I am not sure of Wahab. Personally, I would have selected Anwar Ali. Currently Pak does not have a good fast bowling all rounder in the team and Pak needs one and that is where Anwar Ali comes in. Anwar is a solid batsman and a good fast bowler plus he is an outstanding fielder. Together with Shadab, he could have been a big asset in the team. Remember good fielding counts a lot. Look at the last ODI, England won purely on fielding.

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Jamal Soomro, Karachi

May 20, 2019 09:45pm

Junaid should have been kept and Hasnain should be sent back. PSL performance is not the right criteria.

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Javed Khan

May 20, 2019 09:47pm

Injustice to Junaid, if you wanted to replace him, bring someone better than him, not someone worst than him.

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Zulfiqar

May 20, 2019 09:48pm

He has been hard done. How can they justify dropping him and including Wahab. He bowls very well when he bowls with Amir. Yes he didn’t have a good series against England. But neither did any of the others.

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Javed Khan

May 20, 2019 09:48pm

@Yasio, and Wahab gave 100 runs in his last ODI match and out of the team since July 2017.

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Shahid

May 20, 2019 10:08pm

Junaid, Shaheen Shah and Hasnain were equally bad in the series. Although I would have always preferred Junaid over the other two due to experience but he himself didn't do justice to his abilities.

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Chinpaksaddique

May 20, 2019 10:28pm

PMIK should interfere and calm the parties involved

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Citizen26

May 20, 2019 10:30pm

@Javed Khan, his future performance is unknown and probably will perform better than average. Junaid was given chances but has he produced? His second last over in 4th Odi against England was a game thrown away

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Sab Se Pehle Pakistan

May 20, 2019 10:30pm

@Jamal Soomro, Karachi, : I wish your ancestor Raja Dahir was alive. He would have agreed with you 100 percent.

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Asif jamil

May 20, 2019 10:38pm

Junaid has taken it hard, but to be fair to the selectors, his stats justify the decision to leave him out. But, I cannot see why two out of form bowlers are being brought in. In the past these two had some great performances but there is no guarantee they will do the same this time in England. For Pakistan’s sake, I hope they do.

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Tariq

May 20, 2019 10:49pm

@mansoor, in that case, why were Wahab and Aamir were given the chance to prove their fitness and effectiveness? cannot keep players under the wrap for fear of failure and then thrust them into the final 15.

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Tariq

May 20, 2019 10:52pm

@Pakistani, drop Junaid but don’t replace him with Wahab and Aamir who were kept under the wrap to protect against fear of failure.

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ali khan

May 20, 2019 10:56pm

The man was exposed badly in English conditions.He is a medium pacer at best. Better bowlers than him have been dropped before and took it on the chin. This Umer Akmal/Ahmed Shahzad type of whinging will keep him on the bench with them two. He should focus on returning to his old wicket taking days.

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Captain

May 20, 2019 11:02pm

There are many examples like this gentleman .... history is full of many such acts .... who to be named ?.

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Sam

May 20, 2019 11:06pm

It was very up and down performance, one instance team will take brilliant catches and next they let ball roll to boundary.

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Azhar Khan

May 20, 2019 11:27pm

Poor performance and dropped catches. Inzimam is on right track.

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May 20, 2019 11:59pm

Wise decision not to have him in team. Also wahab riaz is also not a good choice as he gives many runs just to be a fast bowler.

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Manzoor

May 21, 2019 12:02am

Probably the best days of Junaid is over.However the management of the Pakistan team is completely in disarray in selection for the world cup squad.

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Irfan

May 21, 2019 12:21am

I don't understand why is he behaving like this. he has been given enough chances, Junaid hasn't pick enough wickets and neither could control the flow of runs what else could you expect INZI to do. he has selected the BEST 15 . hats off to him for making honest decisions.

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Khalid Pervez

May 21, 2019 12:32am

Good move by inzi .. wahab and amir are big tournament players as has been evident previously. Lets hope they bring thier best game to the WC .. Pakistan zindabad!

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Javed Arshad

May 21, 2019 12:38am

Our players have to learn to sit on the sidelines ,watch,ponder, reflect, learn and improve till they are picked again. They are all talented and its just matter of time they are picked again if they are disciplined and improve.

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Shahidam

May 21, 2019 12:39am

The only concern should be if Wahab will complete every 6-ball over. Bravo, what a selection!

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Ejaz

May 21, 2019 01:02am

No matter who got selected or dropped out, this team is not advancing to playoffs. Pakistan does not have good bowling squad.

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Awaz....

May 21, 2019 01:17am

That is the biggest ego problem with Pakistani cricketers and celebrities .... Me First, I First, We First ... Not Pakistan First....

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Nadeem

May 21, 2019 01:24am

"Truth is bitter", yes after looking at your performance it definitely is. Pacer has no more pace..

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JackJones

May 21, 2019 01:37am

There was no reason for this photo Junaid Khan. Please refrain from these silly pranks. Well the damage is already done. Please consult with an experienced professional before performing any other acts. Sometimes action is stronger than words and your picture was a very strong action. Yes you were not treated fairly but you show by performance not by showing a picture of you with a tap across your mouth. Very disappointed in you. Reality is we need someone like Wahab Riaz who can bowl over 150km/hr and do reverse swing.

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Mudasir

May 21, 2019 01:38am

I think he should not be let off easily..This is indiscipline without performing for Pakistan for so many years he expects selection...He was given chance but failed miserably in bowling and fielding departments...I wonder if player from some other country would have done this indiscipline wat wud have been his fate..But alas player in Pak can say anything...

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wsyed

May 21, 2019 01:59am

Finally the Selectors show some sense, perhaps word came from somewhere else. The team looks balanced except Imam. Imam needs to prove himself, he is too slow and unreliable at this stage. How many chances can you give a player at a time?

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Hasan

May 21, 2019 02:08am

It's not unfair, he should stop comparing, where's the professionalism? where is the sportsmanship? This is not gali-wali-cricket anymore Junaid. Grow up. Learn to respect and appreciate the selective decisions, and support your 15 man team for W/C, even if couldn't make it.

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Meena Gabeena

May 21, 2019 02:15am

Junaid doesn't bowl any Yorkers at the death, at least wahab and Aamir try. Anwar Ali should have been given a chance

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khandk

May 21, 2019 02:21am

Junaid Khan take some rest and try to improve your bowling and fielding.

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zeeshandxb

May 21, 2019 02:42am

he needs to learn to be calm. the world doesn't revolve around him. he should focus on his performance.

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Ash Zed

May 21, 2019 02:51am

Everyone talks about Shinwari as if he is like Dennis Lillee or Michael Holding. Shinwari is less than ordinary and leaks runs at a very high rate. If you don’t trust what I write then have a look at PSL 2019 statistics.

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FAZ

May 21, 2019 03:00am

Expecting his book soon

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Cricloverr

May 21, 2019 03:14am

Junaid(110 wickets in 71 matches) is preferred over Amir(60 wickets in 51 matches) and Wahab(102 wickets in 79 matches) while his recent form & performance history in England is better than the rest. Unjust decision. May we even defend 350.

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Malik

May 21, 2019 03:39am

He didnt perform, so plz let other get a chance to serve the country

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Ubc

May 21, 2019 03:45am

The poor guy was only allowed 2 matches vs 4 for shaheed and hasnain, and even in 2 when he gained his rhythm and took that catch he was taken off the bowling. His bowling figures are better than hasnain and he is right to protest

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May 21, 2019 04:05am

He should be banned for good, guy with attitude and no performance. Senior member of the squad with no control on the ball. After such performance and figures on English soil he believes that he should be selected. Both Amir and Wahab are on the same boat, not sure how they made it to them team. Better select all new team, atleast we will stand a chance in future

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Obaid Beg

May 21, 2019 04:09am

Rightly so..there is room for fixers and underperformed plus nepotism at its best..isn't it so..a very good bowler though...

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Imran

May 21, 2019 04:14am

Favoritisms is norm in PCB

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parveez shafi

May 21, 2019 04:51am

Inzamamul, should get the sack. He picked the wrong bowlers and now he is saying he need experience bowlers. (I like Yaser Khan for test matches), but who picked hime for one day cricket does not have much knowledge as a selector. Just for that alone that person should be fired. Amir and Wahab could have done with some practice in the 5 matches series. First time ever our batsmen played well, but our bowlers ( who suppose to be our strong line up) let us down Win or lose the selectors must go.

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Rehan

May 21, 2019 05:38am

Kick him out of the team with bad badge

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Atif

May 21, 2019 05:39am

I think junaid k sath nainsafi hui,agr wahab ko khilana he tha tu hasnain ya shaheen mei se kisi ko bithadete q k un k.pass bht matches hain...junaid ko hamesha he nzr andaz kia jb k guaranteed he is VALUEABLE BOWLER IN ODI FORMAT

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Haider

May 21, 2019 06:01am

Stupid is always stupid.

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Sal

May 21, 2019 06:09am

He has shown zero performance in recent matches, the guy can’t control his emotions while bowling death overs and throws ball in wrong arras resulting in too many runs. He need to gain experience in tough situations and learn how to keep calm nerves in difficult times. I think PCB took the right decision, can’t afford a loose and wild bowler in World Cup.

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Tallat

May 21, 2019 06:17am

There are only 11 players in the team, how many can we play, 20??

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Jimmy

May 21, 2019 06:51am

@Malik Saab, I question your patriotism or maybe you are not Pakistani at all.

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malik

May 21, 2019 06:54am

@mansoor, I do agree with you I don't remember when he performed well for Pakistan and won a match,I often saw him leak runs and scratch his face only.

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malik

May 21, 2019 06:56am

@A, You are right!

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Atif Gulzar

May 21, 2019 07:00am

Buddy perform first. Then put the tape on.

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Cornered Tigers

May 21, 2019 07:06am

@Malik Saab, And I hope that Pakistan does win the world cup over and over again. Our next generation needs to be inspired with such victories. It needs hopes and dreams. Nothing beats the happiness and euphoria of winning a world cup and sharing that experience of happiness and joy with the nation. I don't know what bad karma you are talking about?

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RIZ

May 21, 2019 07:27am

I hoped he performed better got full opportunity played against Australia and England where have been playing for years in county cricket but failed to perform now by doing this he had closed all the doors on himself.

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Insaaf hoga zaroor hoga

May 21, 2019 07:44am

I like him as a bowler but we all have our days. However, if I fielded as badly as he did succumbing to crowd pressure, I would shut up too. Good catch at the end though.

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Aroosa Ali

May 21, 2019 08:15am

he should be included in worldcup he is a game changer player he's a dominent bowler than wahab riaz please PCB add him in the worldcup squad

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amir

May 21, 2019 08:21am

Shame Shame

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shafiq

May 21, 2019 08:34am

@Malik Saab, you obviously cannot be a Pakistani and say that.

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Indian

May 21, 2019 08:40am

It is better for Pakistan to loose the world cup. Otherwise Sarafraz will one day become PM.

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Dawn

May 21, 2019 09:02am

Surely Amir and Wahab are not the right choice. As a matter of fact Pakistan lacks in balling dept.

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Kashif

May 21, 2019 09:09am

@Zamrez Mirza, You are dumber than inzi. Just shame on you. For supporting inzi and his acts.

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Asad

May 21, 2019 09:43am

Like Pakistan is performing worst in Imran Khan tenure so is the condition with PCB under Ehsan Mani.

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Mirza

May 21, 2019 11:26am

Truth should prevail. Amir skipped the matches making chicken pox as excuse, Wahab is only good for PSL, remember a bolwer missing his run up 5 times in an over, ridiculous selection.

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Mirza

May 21, 2019 11:29am

@Guzni, He was dropped as currently he was out of form. World Cup is a challenge, not a series. How could you justify Amir bowling performance during the past 2 years?

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Tarique Paul

May 21, 2019 12:05pm

It would be better and less embarrasing to withdraw this Useless team from the world cup. They cannot bowl, Bat, nor can they field. They would be better off playing a game of rounders.

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Harris

May 21, 2019 01:40pm

@Coffee_Wala, he is a hundred times more able than amir and wahab. Who cares I'm an England can, say bye bye to your world cup hopes though.

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Waleed raza

May 21, 2019 02:05pm

@Pakistani, dear he is sach a great player and game changer . How about Your captain Sarfraz Ahmad he dropped manny catches in last match why wouldn't you dropped him he doesn't well in any match inspit of last match he does not give a match winning performance

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Waleed raza

May 21, 2019 02:08pm

Junaid Khan is sach nice player and a game changer. How about Sarfraz Ahmad , he dropped manny catches in last match why wouldn't you dropped him. He does not give any match winning performance.

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Waleed raza

May 21, 2019 02:08pm

Junaid Khan is sach nice player and a game changer. How about Sarfraz Ahmad , he dropped manny catches in last match why wouldn't you dropped him. He does not give any match winning performance.

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Waleed raza

May 21, 2019 02:11pm

@Dr. Mizaa, yes you are absolutely right

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Tariq Islam

May 21, 2019 02:33pm

Say what?performance on the day is the reflection and it was just pathetic.What is this nonsense of player power,you dont get selected and all of the sudden this? He needs to understand he is not wasim akram.He is very average bowler so step up or lose it!

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Sab Se Pehle Pakistan

May 21, 2019 02:41pm

Simple explanation i.e. PCB (Punjab Cricket Board)

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kash

May 21, 2019 04:03pm

@Sayyar Khan, Shinwari was not in 17 man squad

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kash

May 21, 2019 04:19pm

Junaid bowls better when playing alongside Amir. If you look at wickests and strike rates, Hassan Ali did worse in this series. Amir will struggle without Junaid. Wahab will be pressure release for batsmen. Wahab definitely getting another century at trent bridge.

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Javed

May 21, 2019 10:05pm

The truth is Junaid you were not good. In the recent series against England you failed to take wickets and gave lots of runs. Over 80 runs in 10 over is frankly not good for a senior bowler.

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Observer

May 21, 2019 10:18pm

Abid Ali was very deserving yet he did not complain. His inclusion would have strengthened the top order. What if Imam or Fakhar get injured who would open the innings then? Actually, the batting order should be Abid Fakhar Imam Babar Asif Sarfaraz Imad... Shoaib Malik should have not been included.

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