Hafeez, Malik return to T20 squad for Bangladesh's tour to Pakistan
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Head Coach and Chief Selector for Pakistan Misbahul Haq on Thursday announced Pakistan's Twenty20 International squad for the upcoming tour of the Bangladesh cricket team.
Babar Azam has been chosen to lead the squad, which is a mix of seasoned and new players. Contrary to speculations, former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed has been left out of the squad.
Ahsan Ali, Amad Butt and Haris Rauf are expected to debut in the series, while Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik and Shaheen Shah Afridi have been recalled in the 15-player squad for the T20 Internationals to be played on January 24, 25 and 27 in Lahore.
"We have combined old and new players in this squad in the hopes that they will be able to end Pakistan's recent losing streak," Misbah said before introducing the squad.
"We have lost eight of our last nine T20Is and as the number-one ranked side, this is unacceptable. We need to end our losing cycle and get back to winning habits leading into the upcoming Asia Cup and ICC T20 World Cup. This has played a critical role in our decision-making."
On bringing Muhammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik back into the mix, Misbah said, "They are experienced players — with a total of 200 T20Is between them — they have performed before and we believe that they will do so in this upcoming series as well."
Discussing the future of the seven dropped players who were part of the squad that recently lost to Sri Lanka, the chief selector said: "The seven players who have missed out on selection are by no means out of our planning but considering their recent form in international cricket and taking into account other strong performances in our National T20 Cup, we have decided to make these changes."
When asked if Salman Butt is being "deliberately ignored" by the selection committee, the chief selector said that nothing of this sort is happening. "When we discuss whom to pick for the squad, a discussion on Salman Butt also takes place, we have no bias against him. Those are just speculations people make."
Captain Babar Azam said that he was satisfied with the choices made by the selection committee. “I want to thank the selection committee for entertaining my request to bring in Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik. I believe they still have plenty to offer to Pakistan cricket in the shortest format and their experience can be critical to our performances in the upcoming series.
“Ahsan, Amad and Haris have recently shown promise and talent, and I think it is the right time to throw them at the deep end to check their ability to perform at an international level. I am sure home crowd and conditions will complement their talent and they will be able to justify their selections.”
Squad
- Babar Azam (C)
- Ahsan Ali
- Amad Butt
- Haris Rauf
- Iftakhar Ahmed
- Imad Wasim
- Khushdil Shah
- Muhammad Hafeez
- Muhammad Hasnain
- Muhammad Rizwan
- Moosa Khan
- Shahdab Khan
- Shaheen Shah Afridi
- Shoaib Mailk
- Usman Javed
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On DawnNews
Comments (90) Closed
Jan 16, 2020 03:00pm
Did you forget the performance of Malik and Hafeez in the last world cup in 2019?
Bring new young players instead of these players who passed their prime time.
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Jan 16, 2020 03:05pm
What about Sarfaraz...Or will still be Punjab Cricket Board..
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Jan 16, 2020 03:06pm
it shows how pathetic domestic structure is ! it's like calling Steve Waugh now to play for Australia
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Jan 16, 2020 03:07pm
'Hafeez and Malik return for T20 cricket ' Shocking to say the least. This speaks volumes about the dearth of good young players in Pakistani cricket.
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Jan 16, 2020 03:20pm
Sarfraz deserved to be in the team not so? if Hafeez and Malik are in ?
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Jan 16, 2020 03:44pm
Still no Sarfaraz; Misbah showing his hatred towards the keeper
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Jan 16, 2020 03:48pm
Again the same old faces... Consistency can only lead to perfection .. we have to change our old approach in team selection.
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Jan 16, 2020 03:54pm
Can somebody teach Misbah how to trim his beard? He looks like a homeless in this picture.
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Jan 16, 2020 03:58pm
Seems like a strange selection to not see either Amir or Wahab in the squad. Shaheen, Hasnain, Ammad and Harris probably don’t even have 20 T20I’s experience between them and this is a World Cup year.
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Jan 16, 2020 04:05pm
The same old story repeated again and again.
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Jan 16, 2020 04:14pm
And Shoaib Malik is the solution to end Pakistan's losing streak?.
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Jan 16, 2020 04:20pm
What’s wrong with this rating system?
1 win in last 12 months and still no. 1 team?
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Jan 16, 2020 04:32pm
....how embarrassing, the world moves forward & Pakistan goes in the opposite direction...T20 is all about young guys, an opportunity to develop them, test them for the One days/test.....so Hafeez & Malik are our future for the one-dayers & tests...
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Jan 16, 2020 04:32pm
Hafeez and Malik will be playing till they reach the Ripe age of 65, which should be next year
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Jan 16, 2020 04:45pm
sarfaraz out and malik in! Strange
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Jan 16, 2020 04:53pm
Why do we keep exercising players who have failed miserably before. Is there no more talent left in Pakistan where we can produce some decent cricketers.
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Jan 16, 2020 05:14pm
Sarafaraz's background is the main obstacle in his return.
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Jan 16, 2020 05:15pm
Wow..Sarfaraz Ahmed is not in yet. This raises many questions and we all know. The entire Pakistan witnesses this injustice.
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Jan 16, 2020 05:22pm
Leaving Surfaraz out and taking Hafeez and Malik in is worst form of discrimination.
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Jan 16, 2020 05:23pm
yes Malik is a good T20 player
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Jan 16, 2020 05:30pm
Do we always have to look back..instead of ahead..surely we have younger talent..
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Jan 16, 2020 05:32pm
poor selection especially lack of pacers. if Bangladesh brings their best team ,they have a good chance of winning T20 series.
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Jan 16, 2020 05:35pm
Mous saying, Don't fix sonething that is not broken. Misbah did exactly that. Pak was number one in T20. He made changes to that side. We will lose badly in the upcoming t20 wc.
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Jan 16, 2020 05:38pm
@thinking, this is Mesbah doctrine...Should not be surprized...It is Punjab Cricket Board
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Jan 16, 2020 05:38pm
Back to square ONE !!!!
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Jan 16, 2020 05:43pm
Unbelievable, Babar azam might be a great player but not a genuine man. The guy who trusted u and made u for who u r is ignored by you... yes right I am talking about sarfaraz
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Jan 16, 2020 05:43pm
Misbah should have brought back Misbah Ul Haq.
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Jan 16, 2020 05:45pm
The frequency of experimentation with the squad is counter to developing maturity of the team. Pakistan's team changes for every series is like watching a new country playing a mature country every time!
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Jan 16, 2020 06:13pm
Malik and Hafeez are brought back because they are expected to perform against Bangladesh.
They were not selected for Australia because Misbah knew that they will fail miserablely against a strong team.
They also failed in the 2019 world cup despite their so called experience.
They can only perform against teams like Bangladesh,Zimbabwe or Afghanistan.
They've never performed against stronger teams specially overseas.
It was a good opportunity to build the team for the future by giving chances to younger and more deserving players as both these experienced players are dead wood but Misbah have other ideas.
However its good that Amir and Wahab have been dropped from the team as they were assuming to be considered for ODI and T20 selection. If you don't want to play test cricket at the age of 27 better sit at home.
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Jan 16, 2020 06:15pm
Shameful decision by Misbah not selecting Sarfaraz Ahmed, Misbah stay at home please
Thank you
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Jan 16, 2020 06:18pm
Good selection. Bye bye amir. Don't come back.
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Jan 16, 2020 06:19pm
Why are we trying those cricketers whom we have tried before, and they didn’t give the required results? It seems like PCB has sworn as not to introduce fresh talent in national team. How long are we going to suffer on every front? Really disappointed! But who cares if nation is feeling disappointed and frustrated.
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Jan 16, 2020 06:28pm
Next series, Misbah will be back
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Jan 16, 2020 06:34pm
Hafeez and Malik a sad choice. They don’t have any cricket left in them. Sarfaraz deserves a chance. Let the merit decide the players and not the other way round.
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Jan 16, 2020 06:41pm
@Farrukh, with selectors who carry huge bag of experience on their back the selection will be like this for every series, don't be surprised.
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Jan 16, 2020 06:42pm
I wonder how misbah would justify with both coaching and selection job the answer lies in the fact when there will be very less cricket its easy for misbah to take on both jobs effortlessly.
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Jan 16, 2020 06:44pm
8 bowlers in the squad, no fast bowling allrounder, one wicketkeeper, a few bits and pieces and 4 batsmen. Shabash Misbah.
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Jan 16, 2020 06:45pm
Embrace for another fixing saga, as both Pak and Bangladesh have this tendency... and I still owe this to india who through bettors have spoiled the likes of M. Amir, Asif, Salman, Shakib etc... Indians can't beat pak consistently they as usual played back door games and spooked our cricket... we have Shaheen, Naseem does not fall in this trap...
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Jan 16, 2020 06:48pm
Malik in again! Haven't we learnt anything from WC2019?
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Jan 16, 2020 07:09pm
Every team gives youngsters a chance we are recalling 40 year olds. Population of 200 million and that's the best they can do!!!
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Jan 16, 2020 07:11pm
Do we not have any other players
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Jan 16, 2020 07:31pm
Unless Rizwan is injured or this selection committee is replaced, Sarfraz is done and dusted
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Jan 16, 2020 07:35pm
Misbahul Haq is clueless. He is unfit for the job as a selector and coach. How can anyone dream of bringing back Hafeez and Malik? Beats logic. Is he doing a favour to his old colleagues?
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Jan 16, 2020 07:41pm
KPK eleven vs. Bangladesh.
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Jan 16, 2020 07:42pm
Misbahul haque is a racist who would never induct Sarfaraz as long as he is cheap selector.
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Jan 16, 2020 07:49pm
8 losses out of 9 is the result of Nepotism after Misbah's appointment.
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Jan 16, 2020 07:49pm
Pakistan could easily debut 2-3 future players rather than trying 39 year old Hafeez.
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Jan 16, 2020 07:51pm
Malik good choose because of performance of BPL but something is missing like Amir
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Jan 16, 2020 07:54pm
Safraz must be in. Misbah and Waqar must be out.
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Jan 16, 2020 08:06pm
Man what kind of loser thinking is this?
Malik? What are you smoking Misbah
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Jan 16, 2020 08:10pm
@shib, It has always been Punjab Cricket Board and not Pakistan Cricket Board.
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Jan 16, 2020 08:14pm
bad decision to have match in Lahore, such a bad venue in Winter, no one think straight. bunch of dumb people in PCB
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Jan 16, 2020 08:22pm
@shib,
How is it Punjab cricket board when Mohd Rizwan is from Peshawar? Half the team is Khan\Afridi and Misbah himself is a Niazi\Khan.
Time to look past races. Rizwan is better than Sarfaraz and that is why he is chosen.
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Jan 16, 2020 08:40pm
Misbah is going back in time. Given the choices he has made, PCB should free him from the responsibility of Chief selector.
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Jan 16, 2020 09:02pm
There is no good reason for ignoring Aamir and Wahab. Having lost 8 of last 9 T20's asks for for selecting the strongest team ibstead of going into WC as #8.
BD is going to whitewasb this inexperienced defense. After all, a stronger defense is better than a stronger batting. During the 2 W's, Pak easily defended under 200 in ODIs. Misbah should know that.
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Jan 16, 2020 09:20pm
Any batsman other than Babar? Poor selection. What’s the criteria of Usman Qadirs selection.? Is Rizwan really a t20 player?
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Jan 16, 2020 09:30pm
Why he is obliging Hafeez and Shoaib?
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Jan 16, 2020 09:33pm
@Kamran, Totally agreed...Does any one from PCB ever bother to read the comments and see what the nation think of them and their stupid decisions..Which are in making our cricket like Hockey..Once we used to dominate in this game...Same is the future...one can see of our cricket...Sad state of affairs at PCB...Punjab Cricket Board....
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Jan 16, 2020 09:42pm
Demographically, 65 percent of Pakistani population is under 30. But not this team. Looks like a team for veteran's match. I was of the opinion that Misbah would do wonders to Pakistan cricket but....... Can't appreciate this kind of selection.
R.S. Menon, Bangalore
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Jan 16, 2020 10:27pm
Very convenient to drop Hafeez and Malik against Australia and then bring them back against Bangladesh in Pakistan. It’s time to at least get rid of Hafeez who can’t even bowl now. Too many frequent changes.
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Jan 16, 2020 10:27pm
PM Pakistan says we have a young country and young talent, by the looks of the team its not the case. Malik started playing from 1999 and Hafeez is 39 years old. Misbah lives in old age.
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Jan 16, 2020 10:31pm
we are confused.
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Jan 16, 2020 10:37pm
PCB & Misbah's bias against Karachi, Sarfraz and Fawad continues! What a pity!
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Jan 16, 2020 10:39pm
Wow, one day you are picking a 7 Feet giant with no performance in any format anywhere in the world for a T20 series in Australia and than Picking Usman Qadir over Amir who is currently Top wicket takers in BPL. What are you smoking? i want some of that too.
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Jan 16, 2020 10:49pm
Once again a great injustice done to Sarfraz by Imram Khan Niazi and Misbah ul Haq Khan Niazi!
What happened to Imran Khan's mantra of merit? Present PCB set is clueless about cricketing affairs? Present PM claimed to have a PhD in cricket! They ought to look at Indians how smart decisions they are making for the future of their cricket! Whereas in Pakistan clans are supporting their own clans! What a pity!
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Jan 16, 2020 10:55pm
Malik and Hafeez inclusion is a welcome step as you need couple of seasoned guys but what happened to Amir and Wahab. I suppose they are still part of WC plan or you seriously think with this bowling unit you can win against big teams. Misbah is making bizarre selections one after the other
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Jan 16, 2020 11:21pm
Wasim Akram and Shoeb Akhtar are not happy since they are not selected in this team.
I was just frustrated from india. Why is Pakistan selecting same old players instead of giving chance to young players at least in T20 cricket.
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Jan 16, 2020 11:39pm
@Asif , amir is not 27 he is minimum 33.
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Jan 16, 2020 11:45pm
At least Abid ali should’ve given chance he play with straight bat . Would’ve been better Choice then Shoaib and Hafeez. Both have never score anything in Australian pitches . Should have left Haris Rauf in Australia to get more experience he was good there . Get him back in next series
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Jan 16, 2020 11:47pm
A team with 3 wicketkeepers
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Jan 17, 2020 12:12am
Fakhar Zaman should be given more opportunities, he is a solid opener but needs time to he can be more consistent.
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Jan 17, 2020 12:20am
Fact is that not much batting depth in Pakistan. Fakhr and Asif have failed recently. Shoaib had a good run in BPL. Hafeez without his bowling is a surprise selection. One batsman short in the squad. Amir was bowling well in BPL. Sarfaraz and Amir should have been included in place of Rizwan and Musa. Abid Ali instead of Khushdil. The young fast bowlers Haris, Shaheen and Hasnain are a good choice.
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Jan 17, 2020 12:26am
I suggest to make a selection committee comprised of all these people who made comments here.
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Jan 17, 2020 12:45am
@shib, As long as the advisors are Ramiz Raja and Waqar Younus there is no place for Karachi players. Karachi should make their own team and challenge the national team to a series of three.
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Jan 17, 2020 12:57am
@Shiraz Quettawalla, First of all, all the players are from Pakistan. Secondly, not that it matters, you obviously haven't bothered to check which region the players are from before making your comment. Look it up.
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Jan 17, 2020 02:30am
Kamran Akmal deserves a chance to be in T20s
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Jan 17, 2020 03:52am
The ICC T-20 tournament is in October 2020 and you are still experimenting. What happened to Wahab, Amir and Usman? I would take these matches against Bangladesh very seriously as Sri Lanka B team whitewashed Pakistan at home. Additionally, I think if you lose any of the matches you will lose your #1 ICC T-20 ranking. I am in favor of experimentation but it needs to be done timely and fairly. If you believe some players have the talent and will perform you need to go with that and take responsibility for the consequences.
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Jan 17, 2020 04:35am
I cannot believe that good analysts like Dr. Noman and Rashid Latif continue to say that Kamran Akmal should be playing for Pakistan in the T-20s. Kamran has been provided plenty of opportunities, in fact the all the Akmals have been, and does not perform in the international circuit and is a horrific wicket keeper. Please lets not have this conversation and discussion again regarding the Akmals.
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Jan 17, 2020 05:26am
Both Hafeez and Malik have passed their prime and should not have been included in the greenshirts T/20 team. Instead, some budding youngsters must have been given the chance and provided the opportunity to show their talents and traits in the upcoming series against the underdogs from Dhaka.
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Jan 17, 2020 05:36am
Misbah, seriously are you keeping personal grudges or something. Bringing Hafeez and Malini in T20.
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Jan 17, 2020 06:11am
What a nonsense, Misbah is going to compare performance of new players based on two different scenario. Hew threw some players to face Australia in Australia. The new players he selected now will play in front of their home crowed and against weaker opponent BD. How will you compare the two performances. One against strong opposition and the other weak.
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Jan 17, 2020 07:03am
I never thought that Misbah could be that stupid. He is making no sense at all. Personal likes and dislikes should and must be avoided. Hafeez is the most obnoxious choice if there was one
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Jan 17, 2020 07:31am
It is a good decision to keep Shoaib and Hafeez in the team until World Cup in Australia. All those who are criticizing their selection, could not name a single alternative to them. The matter of fact is that we simply do not have any newT20 batsmen . Shoaib Malik has been one of the most successful batsman in foreign leagues.
That what I see wrong in this selection and the PCB policy, is their decision to punish Amir and Wahab for not making themselves available for tests. I think, it's selfish and an egocentric decision as most other member countries too have players who have chosen not to play the longer version but those boards did not
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Jan 17, 2020 07:33am
Why not call Javed Miandad? He has a great record too.
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Jan 17, 2020 09:10am
@R. S. Menon , very well said man
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Jan 17, 2020 03:43pm
@fawadbhai, ok fine wrong word son of the soil is this better not Punjab cricket board
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Jan 17, 2020 04:32pm
Khushdil Shah was outstanding in Pakistan Cup so I am surprised people calling his exclusion after 1 game only?
There is no harm in having different keepers for different formats.
Rizwan is best suited to test matches. Sarfaraz best suited to ODI and T20 . Kami should be in T20 as genuine opener.
Babar is already creating his circle with insecurity around his leadership skills. Mail is a champion in such politics so he is in the team to garner support for babar as Captain.
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Jan 17, 2020 05:43pm
@optimist, Great....Why not...Let us make one...
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Jan 17, 2020 05:48pm
@Googlie, Merit...It is the word only for books and speeches...and for optics....No one seriously mean it...dear this is Pakistan...So enjoy...
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Jan 17, 2020 08:14pm
@Indian, Because young players have no clout! And selectors have no vision!
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