U19 World Cup squad: Selectors overlook in-form Kashif

Batsman top-scored in recent three-day event and led Karachi to title

KARACHI: In a surprising move, the national junior selection committee overlooked Kashif Iqbal — who led Karachi to the title in a recent U19 three-day event — for Pakistan’s U19 World Cup squad.

Kashif was also the top scorer of the tournament with 515 runs at an average of 36.79, hitting a century and two half-tons in the process.

The World Cup is scheduled to be held from January 22 to February 14, 2016 in Bangladesh.

On the other hand, Arsal Sheikh — the son of Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) Governing Board member Shakil Sheikh — was selected in the squad despite claiming just nine wickets in three matches.



Shakil, Islamabad Cricket Association’s regional president, heads the domestic cricket committee and was recently in the news for allegedly changing the medical reports of the junior players despite Shaukat Khanum Hospital’s reports suggesting that a majority of the players were overage.

Meanwhile, the PCB promoted Mohammad Masroor to the post of Pakistan head coach for the upcoming event after he did well on Pakistan U16’s tour of Australia, where the team beat the hosts.



“I’m delighted that the PCB has decided to name me as the head coach for the U19 World Cup,” Masroor told The Express Tribune. “It’s satisfying when your efforts are noticed and rewarded. I want to thank the PCB and the National Cricket Academy officials who trusted my abilities and decided to promote me.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 19^th, 2015.

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