Afridi was handed another lifeline by the PCB selection committee as the all-rounder made the cut for the West Indies tour. PHOTO: AFP
KARACHI:
All-rounder Shahid Afridi received another lifeline to revive his One-Day International (ODI) career after being included for the West Indies series, as squads for the limited-overs tour were announced yesterday.
As expected, poor performers in the recently-concluded ICC Champions Trophy – former captain Shoaib Malik, wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal – paid the price and were dropped from the ODI and Twenty20 squads.
Opening batsman Imran Farhat, who also drew heavy criticism following a dismal show at the mega event, was axed along with young fast bowler Ehsan Adil.
Pakistan are due to contest a five-match ODI series and a couple of Twenty20s against the West Indies from July 14 to July 28.
Apart from Afridi, middle-order batsman Umar Akmal, given the additional responsibility of being the wicket-keeper, regained his place in the ODI squad along with opener Ahmed Shehzad. Mohammad Rizwan was included as an extra wicket-keeper option, with upcoming batsman Haris Sohail also added to the 16-man squad.
The 15-man Twenty20 squad also saw changes with left-arm seamer Sohail Tanvir and Sohail, besides promising all-rounder Hammad Azam, included to replace Malik, Kamran and Umar Gul who is nursing an injury. Umar Akmal will serve as the lone wicket-keeper in the short series.
Why Afridi but not Razzaq?
The 33-year old Afridi, who was dropped owing to poor show in the past few months, returned to the ODI outfit without showing any performance at the competitive level.
However, chief selector Iqbal Qasim defended the all-rounder’s return through a number of reasons, apparently getting avid backing from ODI captain Misbahul Haq, who had earlier vetoed the former captain’s inclusion in the Champions Trophy.
“There was a need to strengthen the lower-order batting,” said the chief selector. “Secondly, what we witnessed in the ongoing tri-series in the Caribbean is that there ‘s low bounce on those pitches and that supports Afridi’s style of spin bowling.
“He’s shown good fitness level. Abdul Razzaq did not meet the requirements as he’s a medium pacer and has been out of action in domestic cricket.”
Qasim added the decision to include Umar Akmal as a wicket-keeper batsman was made on an experimental basis.
“We’ll have Rizwan who is a good talent and can be utilised in the same capacity if required. The team has been formed keeping the World Cup in mind as we have included various youngsters as well. We hope the players will do well and maintain their place. [Ehsan] Adil is a good prospect but we did not need an extra pacer for the kind of conditions in the West Indies.”
Misbah ready to take responsibility
Misbah dismissed rumours of indifference between the team management and the selectors, saying the players were chosen after ‘consensus.’
“The selection has been made with the consent of the team management and all the selectors,” said Misbah. “The team has not been imposed on us and I am satisfied as these were the best available players.
“I take responsibility of the Champions Trophy failure and I will also accept responsibility of the performance in West Indies. Afridi has been selected as we needed an all-rounder to replace Malik.”
Meanwhile, Twenty20 captain Mohammad Hafeez hoped the team will do well against the world champions.
“We have been performing well in the format and have improved our rankings,” said Hafeez. “I look forward to a good series.”
ODI squad
Misbah (c), N Jamshed, A Shehzad, M Hafeez, A Shafiq, U Akmal, S Afridi, S Ajmal, W Riaz, J Khan, M Irfan, A Ali, U Amin, M Rizwan (wk), A Rehman, H Sohail
Twenty20 squad
M Hafeez (c), N Jamshed, A Shahzad, H Sohail, U Akmal, H Azam, S Afridi, S Ajmal, S Tanvir, W Riaz, M Irfan, A Ali, U Amin, Z Baber, J Khan
Published in The Express Tribune, July 4th, 2013.
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We certainly do not need Afridi now. If Misbah needed an all-rounder, he should've looked towards the domestic league pool of young all-rounders. Not someone who always has a 20% chance of clicking. Hammad Azam deserves a one day birth and he is not being utilized. It is now he needs to play in the team. Not when he is 31.