LAHORE: Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal returned to all three formats after getting his bowling action cleared by the International Cricket Council while pacer Junaid Khan, middle order batsman Fawad Alam and a number of newcomers were named in the three squads for the Test, ODI and T20 series against Bangladesh by the newly-appointed selection committee who also axed World Cup flops Umar Akmal, Ahmed Shehzad and Nasir Jamshed in a bold move here on Friday.

Chief selector Haroon Rasheed announced the three squads at a press briefing here on Friday, saying the squads were selected by keeping the future of the country as first priority.

“We have better ranking in both Tests and T20s and the major area of concern for us is the one-day squad, therefore, we have made necessary changes in it,” Haroon said.

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Newcomers Babar Azam, Sami Aslam and Mukhtar Ahmed named in squads

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“Our message is clear to all the selected players that they can only cement their places in the squad if show team spirit and do not play for individual interests,” he added.

The tour to Bangladesh is likely to be held from April 14 to May 10. The two cricket boards are still in negotiations to finalise the terms and conditions but the selection committee decided to announce the squads to give players some time to get united and prepare.

The tour may get clearance on Saturday as sources told Dawn that the Bangladesh government is considering all pros and cons of holding the series at a time when the political situation is not conducive.

On the other hand, the PCB is also asking for maximum financial benefits from the series. Hopefully, the series will get green signal soon, the sources further said. “For the last couple of days, the selection committee has been deliberating on the basis of performances of the players in the World Cup and for our strategy for the future.

“Our Test and T20 rankings are good but the area of concern for us is the one-day format where we stand at seventh place,” Haroon said. “We also went through the reports of the team management and after going through it, we decided to give a clear message to all the players that they have to observe discipline and play as a unit,” he added.

“The selection committee is working independently taking no pressure from any side,” the chief selector claimed. “We will implement our selection policy at all cost and for it the selectors will take every step,” he resolved.

Haroon said the most important factor of Friday’s selection was Ajmal’s return in all the three formats, after getting his bowling action cleared.

Nasir Jamshed (World Cup average 1.66), Umar Akmal (27.33) and Ahmed Shehzad (32.42) were left out for their poor show while senior pro Younis Khan (14.33 in World Cup) was rested from the limited-overs team.

To a question, the chief selector said both Umar and Nasir were dropped due to their poor performances in the World Cup. He added the head coach’s reports were also considered and some players were ousted because of it as they were showing attitude and not playing for the team. “These dropped players have to work on improving their role as team men if they want to make a return,” he maintained.

He said six or seven players like Mohammad Irfan, Anwar Ali and Hammad Azam, who were undergoing rehab, were not considered for selection.

“We have four years in our hands to prepare a competitive team for the next World Cup, so, every deserving player will get a chance,” he said.

“Some players may not be available for the national team in next couple of years, so we have to find and groom their back-up,” he said.

He said all-rounder Sohail Tanvir and Umar Gul were selected because the T20 World Cup was around the corner and Pakistan would need experience.

“We don’t want major break in the T20 side, because the World Cup is just eight months away, and due to the performances of these experienced players Pakistan stand at third place in this format,” he added.

On ignoring paceman Imran Khan, Haroon said the selectors had decided to retain fast bowlers Wahab Riaz, Rahat Ali, Sohail Khan and Ehsan Adil who had excelled at the World Cup but Imran will remain on selectors’ radar.

Asked if T20 captain Afridi had forced Shehzad’s inclusion in the T20 squad since the latter’s conduct was not satisfactory according to head coach Waqar Younis, Haroon said confining the opener to just T20 team was a clear message to all the players that they had to prove themselves as team men.

He said though the head coach and captains of all the three formats were consulted, the selection committee picked up the squads independently.

The chief selector said Umar Gul’s induction into the T20 side was also important and he was selected after showing complete fitness. He added that main pacer Junaid Khan had regained full fitness and was included in the T20 and Test squad.

Meanwhile, in the Test squad, who missed out were Shan Masood, Mohammad Talha, Imran Khan, Taufiq Umar and Ehsan Adil. They were part of the last Test series against New Zealand in the UAE.

Newly-introduced opener Babar Azam, Zulfiqar Babar, captain Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis will play only Tests. Misbah had announced his retirement from ODI cricket after leading Pakistan in the World Cup.

Shahid Afridi was not considered for the ODIs because he had announced retirement from it.

An under-19 team player Sami Aslam has been selected as an opener in Test and ODI squads.

Sarfraz Ahmed, who proved his potential whenever he was given a chance in the mega event in Australia, was included in all the three formats.

Mohammad Hafeez, who could not play the World Cup due to fitness problem, is included in all the squads. His biomechanics test for a suspect bowling action is scheduled for April 9 in Chennai, India.

Fawad was included in the ODI side. Though the PCB had been asking former chief selector Moin Khan to induct Fawad into the World Cup squad in place of unfit Hafeez, he preferred Nasir, who proved a complete failure.

In the T20 squad, batsman Mukhtar Ahmed from Sialkot and all-rounder Saad Nasim from Lahore are new introduction.

Squads:

Test: Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Sami Aslam (openers); Misbahul Haq, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali (vice-captain), Younis Khan, Haris Sohail (middle-order batsmen); Saeed Ajmal, Yasir Shah, Zulifkar Babar (spinners); Sarfraz Ahmed (wicket-keeper); Wahab Riaz, Junaid Khan, Sohail Khan, Rahat Ali (fast bowlers).

ODI: Sami Aslam, Sarfraz Ahmed, Mohammad Hafeez (openers); Asad Shafiq, Fawad Alam, Azhar Ali (captain), Mohammad Rizwan, Haris Sohail, Sohaib Maqsood (middle-order batsmen); Saeed Ajmal, Yasir Shah (spinners); Wahab Riaz, Rahat Ali, Ehsan Adil, Sohail Khan (fast bowlers).

T20: Ahmed Shehzad, Sarfraz Ahmed, Mohammad Hafeez (openers); Mukhtar Ahmed, Sohaib Maqsood, Haris Sohail, Mohammad Rizwan (middle-order batsmen); Saeed Ajmal (spinner); Shahid Afridi (captain), Sohail Tanvir, Saad Nasim (all-rounders); Wahab Riaz, Sohail Khan, Umar Gul, Junaid Khan (fast bowlers).

Published in Dawn, April 4th, 2015

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