No gems unearthed but several players impress

National selectors feel the level of cricket as a whole has improved


Nabeel Hashmi September 13, 2015
Khurram Manzoor put in a man of the match performance against Lahore and has impressed the selectors. PHOTO: AFP

KARACHI: Although the national selection committee has yet to unearth any unknown outstanding talents in the ongoing National T20 Cup, its members feel there are several cricketers who can be drafted in the pool of players under consideration for the national side.

Karachi Blues paceman Rumman Raees and opener Khurram Manzoor, Peshawar fast-bowler Imran Khan Jr, Bahawalpur batsman Faisal Mubashir and young left-arm spinner Zafar Gohar — who hails from Lahore but is representing Islamabad — have all impressed and are now being monitored for a potential future call-up.

“To be honest we haven’t found a player who can be categorised as a special talent in the ongoing T20 tournament but there are certainly players who can add value to the team in the future,” a selection committee member told The Express Tribune. “We’ve been impressed by Raees because he is clever bowler who possesses both slower variations and a quick yorker. Same is the case with Imran Khan Jr.” Pakistan do not have many assignments to try new players with the World T20 approaching fast but they do play Zimbabwe later this month in a three-match ODI and T20 series, which will be followed by a long ‘home’ series against England.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is still hopeful that the proposed series against India will also take place in December despite the ongoing political tensions between the two countries.

Meanwhile, chief selector Haroon Rasheed has said the ongoing T20 cup surpasses the previous editions in terms of planning and the level of competition on display. “I must say that this is Pakistan’s most competitive T20 tournament ever as all teams are giving their all to upset the big boys and have even managed to do so. The level of fielding has improved, while the bowlers and batsmen are not afraid to try different things,” said Haroon.

The former batsman believes this bodes well for the sport, while he also praised the ground staff for preparing pitches conducive to competitive cricket. “From what we’ve witnessed so far, we’re confident that there is overall improvement in Pakistan cricket,” he said. “The pitches are also much better this time around, which has resulted in competitive cricket.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 13th, 2015.

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COMMENTS (1)

Mohammed | 8 years ago | Reply Most of the players mentioned are very average. I liked the look of Mohammed Asghar from Rawalpindi, Fakhar Zaman from Abbotabad, Awais Nasir has been the best off Spinner and although he hasn't been great in the Tournament, Taj Wali swings the ball at good pace.
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