PCB Selectors Name 18 Cricketers for the Tour of Ireland and England in a Flippantly Conducted Press Conference

DR Cricket analyses the 18-member squad announced by Men’s National Selection Committee for the tours of Ireland and England, prior to the T20 World Cup.

“Now Razaq Bhai will answer this question,” said Muhammad Yousuf deflecting a question towards Abdul Razaq, complaining that there are seven selectors and each liable to an answer. Razaq was as startled as a boy in the science class who has been suddenly asked to narrate Newton’s law of motion. “Please repeat (the question),” said the former allrounder sheepishly, taken aback by the unannounced intrusion into his reverie. And when he spoke, those flanking him watched wearily, hoping that the boy doesn’t trip on the first hurdle.

Such was the lackadaisical way the press conference was held by the PCB’s selection committee to announce the 18-member squad for the coming tour of Ireland and England. To have a body of equals, seven selectors in this case, is fine. Indeed, a democratic endeavour in a country which has had a tough time implementing democracy at the national level. However, all bodies, even those with the most democratic make-up, have a focal person. Someone, whom the press could talk to; someone who is supposed to come prepared even for the dodgiest of questions.

The scribes were not sure as to whom they should direct their quarries during the press conference. Whahab Riaz seemed keen to answer. Yousuf appeared loath to handle the responsibility when he said: “There are three others (selectors)……” implying that he alone should not be held responsible for the selection. Razzaq smiled aloofly most of the time, whereas Bilal Afzal’s contribution was some discrete whispers in Razzaq’s ear, though he himself appeared to be the most attentive one.
PCB chose to announce an eighteen-member squad that will be whittled down to 15 by the 24th of May, by which time the boys in green would have played the first T20 of the English tour following the three T20s in Dublin. For international matches to ascertain the form and fitness of the players. By choosing to keep their options open, the body of selectors has, in a way, cast more uncertainty as to the final make-up of the squad.

However, it has always been the Pakistan way. The uncertainty often lingers even after the start of a tournament. The team management always tends to narrow down its playing eleven once the tournament has started.

Hasan Ali is once again in the fold. Wahab Riaz insisted that he was always in consideration for the T20. That is a bit of a mystery. Hasan is always in the consideration, no matter what the format. And it somehow doesn’t seem to matter how forgettable his performance has been over the past few years, both with red and white balls.

We believe that Muhammad Ali – who reinvented himself as a T20 bowler by grabbing 19 wickets in the recently concluded PSL after a more auspicious red ball domestic record over the years – was hard done by the selectors. He merited a place the squad, at least in the eighteen.

And how could one ignore Amir Jamal, the pugnacious allrounder with the ability to single handedly change the course of the game. His cockiness is well justified by his talent. He is of the kind who rise with the occasion. The higher the stage the better he performs. Besides, Pakistan needs such players in the field. Those who can look the adversaries in the eyes. Or, as they say, fight fire with fire. He is an all-format player and should be included in any playing eleven.

No one has had to prove himself repeatedly more than Usama Mir, the tall leg-spinner from Sialkot. Now, that he was finally in his groove after taking the highest number of wickets in the recently concluded PSL, he has been given the proverbial cold shoulder. The selection committee believes that they already have a wrist spinner in the team, Shadab Khan. Hence no need for another. But the question is can Shadab be trusted with a four-over spell, given his form with the ball?

The selectors, however, have these words for Usama Mir and Zaman Khan as per the press release by the PCB: “We understand Usama and Zaman will be disappointed and they should be as they must be looking ahead to the tours of Ireland and England. They are quality cricketers and have long careers ahead of them. They need to continue to focus on their cricket so that they are available, if required.”

What became of Waseem Junior? One may wonder. We took him to Australia for the test series where he wasn’t given a single match. Even after injury to Khurram Shahzad and resting of Shaheen Shah for the final test, he should have been the obvious choice, but was overlooked.

In the previous T20 world cup, he was included in the playing eleven after the team made a losing start and the management saw the folly of its ways. He is fast, balls well with the new ball and is probably the only one to master the art of reverse swing among the Pakistani bowlers.

Hasan has been a great servant of Pakistan cricket. But there comes a time when you do more disservice to a player by asking of him that he cannot deliver. There just isn’t enough Hi-octane left in the generator.

The selectors have persisted with an injured Haris Rauf. Experts will tell that you just cannot take a fast bowler straight into the World Cup after a long layoff. We did it with Shaheen Shah in the last T20 world Cup and caused great harm to the young speedster and Pakitsan cricket. Haris is a strong lad who should have been eased into world cricket. A few domestic matches are the way to go about it. And if the domestic season is off, how about some matches in the English county cricket. The weather may just be ideal for his recuperation.

Yousuf said that if you kept failure in mind, you could not move forward. But isn’t it exactly what they have done?
The press conference was an exercise in flippancy. We only hope that the selection of the final fifteen players does not reflect the manner in which our worthy selectors conducted themselves on the stage.

The 18-member Squad by the PCB for the Tour of Ireland and England (to be reduced to 15 for the World Cup):

Babar Azam (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah
Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan

DR Cricket’s Pakistan Squad for the T20 World Cup 2024:

Keeping in with the trend of naming the possible squad for the impending World Cup in the American continent, DR cricket also has come up with what it believes is the right set of players for the mega event.

Batters:
Baber Azam, Muhammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Iftakhar Ahmed, Usman Khan
Allrounders:
Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Amir Jamal
Spinners:
Usama Mir, Abrar Ahmed
Pacers:
Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Muhammad Amir, Mohammad Abbas Afridi