Unlike in the past, the selectors seem to be a busy party as the current domestic season continues.
The ultimate goal of the Iqbal Qasim-led selection committee is to form formidable sides for all the three formats, the need of which has been pointed out by several former Test cricketers who believed that a change was the need of the hour.
It has been learnt that the selection committee closely followed the recently-concluded Faysal Bank One-Day Cup with committee members, including the chief selector, being present at the venues in Lahore.
According to an official close to the committee, the selectors will keenly follow action at the upcoming Super Eight Twenty20, which will start on March 25 in Rawalpindi, with this year’s World Twenty20 in mind. “There’s a need to replace some players,” said the official. “The selectors will take the T20 competition seriously to unearth some talent for the World Twenty20.”
‘No urgency in forming separate teams’
Meanwhile, a selector confirmed that the body was working on scouting out new talent but said there was no urgency in forming separate teams.
“We are working on it but don’t have a deadline in mind,” the selector told The Express Tribune. “The purpose is to find a pool of players who can effectively become replacements when needed.
“However, since the World Twenty20 is close we might bring appropriate changes in the squad in our next assignments.”
Meanwhile, a change at the helm was expected after the Asia Cup with Misbahul Haq likely to be retained as captain only for Tests.
A meeting of the PCB top brass, including the team management and the selection committee members, is likely to discuss the names of a new captain for the limited-overs formats of the game with Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Hafeez being the main contenders for the job, said another PCB official.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 23rd, 2012.
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Test Side: Muhammad Hafeez, Toufeeq Umer, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Misbah Ul Haq(c), Asad Shfique, Adnan Akmal(wk), Saeed Ajmal, Abdul Rehman, Umer Gul, Tanveer Ahmed
ODI Side: Muhammad Hafeez, Nasir Jamshed, Asad Shafique, Younis Khan, Misbah haq(c), Umer Akmal, Kamran Akmal(wk), Shahid Afridi(c), Saeed Ajmal, Umar Gul, Aizaz Cheema,Hammad Azam
T20 Side:
Imran Nazir, Ahmad Shazad, Shahzaib Hassan, Muhammad Hafeez(c), Asad Shfique, Umer Akmal(wk), Shahid Afridi,Rana Naveed Ul Hasan, Saeed Ajmal, Umar Gul,
@hassan:
In case some one has a bent of 23.5 degress that would be even better. ammendment to the rule Can be taken from ICC.
Keep Afridi out and get Shoaib Malik back. LOL
Afridi should start modeling, no more cricket
@Safdar: So what about new talent???
Hafeez can captain Pakistan after Afridi......and selectors must look for Saeed Ajmal's successor.....
Imran Nazir, Ahmad Shahzad, Muhammad Hafeez, Umar Akmal (w/c), Asad Shafique, Hammad Azam, Shahid Afridi (C), Rana Naveed, Umar Gul, Sohail Tanveer and Saeed Ajmal. This should be t20 squad for PK.
Instead of hunting for promising cricketers, please hunt for people who have natural 15-degree bent elbows, by birth. They will make terrific, match-winning bowlers.
---Just have 3 bowlers with bent elbows.
---They can bowl pace or spin, does not matter.
---They will take all 10 wickets in two sessions
---Test match will be over in 3 days.
---Left-hand bowler with bent arm (15 degrees or more) will be unplayable !
So, I request the selectors to look for such kind of people !
@romeo: We tried Ahmad Shahzad so many times, even in 2011 world cup, but he could not deliver. He is a talented player and good enough for domestic cricket like BPL etc, but can not handle pressure in international matches as we experienced in the last couple of years. Awais Zia should be given chance to prove his abilities. Mental toughness plays vital role in high level (international) cricket. But i respect your opinion. After all selectors have to decide, who to play and who not. You and me only can suggest.
@Murad: Awais Zia ?? he does not know how to bat. He knows only how to swing wildly and miss. No way he should be selected. Ahmed Shahzad should be selected for all the formats, he is really genius and got an array of shots and sound defense in his armory.
Tanvir Ahmed deserve one more series as he was omitted for no reason.
Twenty2o squad for Pakistan (suggested) Imran Nazir, Awais Zia, Muhammad Hafeez (captain), Umar Akmal (w/c), Asad Shafique, Hammad Azam, Shahid Afridi, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Muhammad Sami, Aizaz Cheema
Afridi as a captain ! Are u Serious? NO|T agian please ... His uncertainity in his batting is also very much visible in his captaincy... by patting at the back u shouldd't be made a captain. A capatin should be clever enough in his all actional whether physical or action and sorry to say Afridi lacks in both cases. My recommendation would be Hafeez.. He is a sensible player and should be given a chance as a Captain now ... Afridi is better off as an Allrounder...
I like Afridi but for Captain T20 Hafeez is a better choice. Afridi should play as player he is great where brain is not required..
Hafeez would be a better captain than Afridi.. Methodical thought always wins over rash instinctive decisions..
Afridi...? Seriously... Not again, please. Passion alone cannot do much... brain and calmness are needed.
i'd say give Misbah one more year in ODIs and make Hafeez captain in T20. No Afridi again please.