For World T20: Shahzad for Manzoor only change so far

PCB forms special committee to investigate poor showing in Asia Cup

KARACHI:

The national selection committee, headed by Haroon Rasheed, is including opener Ahmad Shahzad in the World T20 squad in place of Khurram Manzoor but is not keen on making more changes despite pressure from several quarters.

There were calls to make two or three changes but the selectors feel that too many changes would disturb a team that is already low on confidence.

Recent haphazard decisions have already left the team in state of a flux, with three late changes made before the team went to Bangladesh for the Asia Cup. Medium pacer Rumman Raees was declared unfit despite his MRI being clear, while Babar Azam was excluded due to a hand injury.



Iftikhar Ahmad was plucked out of the World T20 squad without any rhyme or reason as selectors drafted in Mohammad Sami, Khalid Latif and Sharjeel Khan based on the trio’s impressive performances in the Pakistan Super League.

“The only change we’re looking to make in the World T20 squad is to bring back Ahmad Shahzad as Khurram was unable to perform in the Asia Cup,” one of the selectors told The Express Tribune. “You can’t chop and change a lot. We’ve already made a few changes to the squad originally announced for the World T20.”

The selector, who did not want to be named, added that the problem lay not with the squad but with skipper Shahid Afridi’s inability to field the right playing eleven in the ongoing Asia Cup.



He added that Afridi made a few mistakes which proved costly, while the top-order has just not been able to get going.

With Pakistan out of the Asia Cup final, the team will return home before leaving for India to take part in the World T20. “We will sit down with Afridi and coach Waqar Younis once they are back in order to discuss the team for the World T20,” added the selector.

Committee formed to investigate performance

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Shaharyar Khan has decided to form a special committee to inquire into the team’s poor performances in the Asia Cup and also to examine the selection process for the World T20.



The committee includes veteran cricketers Younus Khan and Misbahul Haq, and is being led by Cricket Committee chairman Shakil Sheikh. PCB Chief Operating Officer Subhan Ahmad and former Test player Iqbal Qasim are also part of the five-member committee.

“The terms of reference for the committee are being prepared and will include the selection criteria, the coaching preparation and the team’s performance,” read a PCB press release. “It will monitor the team’s performance and make its recommendations thereafter. The committee will be empowered to call any person involved in the team’s performance and will begin functioning immediately.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 5^th, 2016.

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