Sports

ICC snubs Amir for Champions Trophy team of the tournament

Five-man panel selects four Pakistanis, with Sarfraz as captain of the side

Sports Desk June 19, 2017

Amir might have not enough wickets, but he was the most effective bowler of the tournament. PHOTO: AFP

Mohammad Amir’s six-over spell in the final of the 2017 Champions Trophy will be remembered by all and sundry for years to come but the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday snubbed the left-arm pacer from the team of the tournament.

Amir bagged five wickets in 34.1 overs in the four matches he played with an economy of 4.41 and unarguably all those scalps changed the shape of the matches for his captain Sarfraz Ahmed.

🎥 Relive all the Indian wickets as Pakistan secure the #CT17! 🏆🇵🇰 pic.twitter.com/WSaA0mvoRm
— ICC (@ICC) June 19, 2017

He went wicketless against India and South Africa but against Sri Lanka he dismissed two settled batsmen — Angelo Mathews and Niroshan Dickwella — who looked set to take the game away from Pakistan.

He then missed the semi-final against England due to back spasms but came back even stronger for Pakistan in the final where he returned figures of 16-3 in his six overs. And if the numbers are not enough, he dismissed India’s ferocious top-order trio of openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan, and the world’s best ODI batsman Virat Kohli.

V Kohli, c S Khan b M Amir - the #CT17 Final @Nissan Play of the Day. Congratulations! https://t.co/omsDy28GGv #POTD pic.twitter.com/4VbBkVJd2j
— ICC (@ICC) June 19, 2017

Four Pakistanis make the cut

The team, which includes seven players from the two finalists, is led by none other than the winning captain Sarfraz.

His 76 runs and nine dismissals behind the stumps coupled with effective captaincy earned him the plaudit over the likes of Kohli, New Zealand’s Kane Williamson (12^th man with 244 runs), Joe Root (number five with 258 runs) and most expensive 2017 Indian Premier League catch Ben Stokes (number six with 184 runs and three wickets).

There were amazing celebrations in the Pakistan changing room after their #CT17 win! 🎉 🇵🇰 🏆 pic.twitter.com/hnfDPnPNQK
— ICC (@ICC) June 19, 2017

Meanwhile, Fakhar Zaman (252 runs) was placed as an opener alongside India’s Shikhar Dhawan (338 runs), with Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal (293) as one-down.

Player of the tournament and the golden ball winner Hasan Ali (13 wickets) alongside Pakistan’s left-arm pacer Junaid Khan (eight wickets) are a part of the three-pronged attack with includes India’s Bhuvneshwar Kumar (seven wickets).

Victory lap 🏆 🇵🇰 ✌️ #CT17 pic.twitter.com/5nxU9JjPz8
— ICC (@ICC) June 18, 2017

England leggie Adil Rashid (seven wickets) is included as a spinner in the team.

ICC’s team of 2017 Champions Trophy

i) Shikhar Dhawan

ii) Fakhar Zaman

iii) Tamim Iqbal

iv) Virat Kohli

v) Joe Root

vi) Ben Stokes

vii) Sarfraz Ahmed (captain)

viii) Adil Rashid

ix) Junaid Khan

x) Bhuvneshwar Kumar

xi) Hassan Ali

xii) Kane Williamson

#SpiritOfCricket #CT17 #PAKvIND pic.twitter.com/G2wAmKkmxO
— ICC (@ICC) June 18, 2017

COMMENTS (23)

Barry Richard | 7 years ago | Reply Amir deserved the man of the match in the final much more than Fakhar because Fakhar was out on a no ball and gave so many chances.Amir spell was devastating from the start and it broke the back of India main Batting line.He was really unplayable and deserved the man of the match award more than anybody else.

ARFAN ASLAM khan | 7 years ago | Reply So unfair for not giving mom to Amir,he who broke indians top orders back,he deserve a medal for match winning game.Why he was not chosen for ICC is beyond me.Good luck to him in his future.Pakistan Zinda Baad.

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Asif | 7 years ago | Reply What is the significance of this Champions Trophy team of the tournament? Will this team play any matches? Who will they play against?

Ch. Allah Daad | 7 years ago | Reply Amir's spell was extra ordinary but team of the tournament is not selected on one spell. Since his return, he has not been consistent. Sarfraz's appointment as Captain proves that selector did not snub any deserving player.

Hamza | 7 years ago | Reply For me the Man of Match is Muhammad Ammir. He bowled very well because of his bowling we are able to win a huge match against India... He is the best Player for me.

saad mirza | 7 years ago | Reply aamir z a great bowler.we won trophy bcz oz him

nakhtar | 7 years ago | Reply This is total unjust, not to include Amir. However, if he is not available due to health problem than its ok otherwise ICC should not do this kind of cruel unjust with Aamir.

Faisal | 7 years ago | Reply Amir is a great bowler and has started to find his rythm of pre ban era. However its a fair selection given that he could not get any wicket against India and South Africa and also could not play the semi final.

Fiz | 7 years ago | Reply Trust him, he will deliver. He has learned his lesson and wants to amend. Give him a chance.

Tashfeen Qayyum | 7 years ago | Reply Don't be silly. It's not a snub nor any stigma attached. The chose the best performers based on runs scored and wickets taken except for Stokes.

Razi Ahmad | 7 years ago | Reply Whatever we think...there was another reason to drop him as his fitness is uncertain. However, Hazelwood would be a better choice than Junaid.

jun | 7 years ago | Reply @Amir: He has served and payed backed already.I think,in his bowling,there was something which he may not describe or understand,nor did we.It was fire.He paid back the nation by bowling out 3 big fish and in exchange for the shame and anger in our hearts,he made us proud when we were suffering as a nation,no hope and depressed,he pulled us from our bottom.Maybe the pain he went through which we never saw,has made him strong and made us see that everyone makes mistakes.I hated this man most,but now I love this man the most

Malik | 7 years ago | Reply Amir is the best bowler among all others and he proved himself already. Nothing to change and we r proud of to have him in our team. Keep it UP AMIR

Malik | 7 years ago | Reply Amir is the best and we r proud of him to have him in our team.

Dr. Asad Sadick, Germany | 7 years ago | Reply Amirs omission must not be considered as a snub. The criteria for selection was the number of wickets taken in the tournament. His spell in the finals was a blinder and everyone acknowledges it. As a matter of fact that spell was the defining moment. It broke the back-bone of the Indian side from which they never recovered. Media should not misinform its readers.

bahadurkhan | 7 years ago | Reply @MS: he can be selected for ICC anti match fix comittee or chairman

JD | 7 years ago | Reply This is unbelievable ET. Its Muhammad Amir in the playing XI, not Junaid Khan!

Iqbal Hadi Zaidi | 7 years ago | Reply I salute not just clap or even greet Sarfraz+ Fakhar + Junaid + Hassan to be included in ICC team. I wish they still flutter atop our flag, inshaallah. Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / Kuwait / zaidi.formerdiplomat@hotmail.com

ezanius@gmail.com | 7 years ago | Reply If the hundred runs of Fakher are deducted, even then India's 180 wouldn't have been a match to Pakistan's total. It was only Amir's bowling that the whole Indian team was crumbled. Just Amir is the players that made Pakistan's dreams fulfilled. He would not be digested by the global arena not because of his scandals when he was a juvenile, but because of his skills that could make him a legend. ICC do not need legends, but sellable products for their business of cricket. As they say cricket is played by players but organized by multinational companies. Amir, you are a legend already.

MJ-Sid | 7 years ago | Reply My man of the match was Amir. Without any doubt he was the difference between India being able to chase the total and being down without a hope.

ali | 7 years ago | Reply Amir is the best, he doesn't need to Prove anything now..

MS | 7 years ago | Reply Perfect team. Nobody trusts Amir. Who knows what his plans are?

Amir | 7 years ago | Reply because of his transgression, even though he has served time, the stigma of this tag will linger on throughout his career

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