Series against Sri Lanka: Shinwari in contention for ODI squad

Left-arm pacer likely to be included in team for Sri Lanka series.

KARACHI:

Promising speedster Usman Shinwari’s stupendous show in the Departmental T20 final seems to have sealed his berth in the One Day International (ODI) squad that will take on Sri Lanka in the UAE later this month.

The 19-year-old impressed everyone with a scintillating burst in the recently concluded final of the Departmental T20 event by claiming a five-wicket haul against SNGPL to help ZTBL win the title.

The performance saw the teenager move the ball prodigiously at decent pace. ZTBL coach Wajahatullah Wasti told The Express Tribune that Shinwari could prove to be a surprise weapon for Pakistan in the upcoming World T20 event and that selectors must take a chance with him.

Shinwari’s emergence convinced ODI and Test skipper Misbahul Haq, who was one of the left-armer’s victims in the final, and the selection committee that he could provide the much needed penetration in Pakistan’s pace attack.

“The selection committee wants to gamble on the youngster Shinwari in the series against Sri Lanka,” an official having knowledge of the matter told The Express Tribune. “Misbah and the selectors want Shinwari to be included and they’ve also taken permission from Pakistan Cricket Board interim chairman Najam Sethi after a meeting.”

The official further added that the board has asked Shinwari to submit his passport to make arrangements for his travel to the UAE.

When a selection committee member was contacted on this issue, he revealed that the committee has given the green signal for the inclusion of the bowler as a possible reinforcement for the Twenty20 squad. However, the final decision rests with captain Mohammad Hafeez, while Misbah is also keen on including the pacer in the ODI team.

NBP trounce United Bank by 10 wickets

NBP recorded a comfortable 10-wicket win over United Bank in a President’s Trophy Grade One match played at Islamabad’s Diamond club ground. Ataullah was the star performer for the winners, claiming 10 wickets in the match that included a tally of six victims in the second innings.

United Bank’s batsmen played a poor game, scoring 129 and 160 in their two innings. NBP reached 285 in their first innings and chased down the five-run target in the second innings without the loss of a wicket to record an impressive win.

Pakistan Test discard Fawad Alam did his reputation no harm by scoring a crucial century for NBP in a match dominated by the bowlers. The left-hander scored 103 off 204 balls and his innings was studded with nine boundaries and a solitary six.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 8^th, 2013.

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