More youngsters in contention for SL series

PCB’s selection committee begins process of picking squad for ODIs.

KARACHI: An enthralling performance by debutants Anwar Ali and Bilawal Bhatti in the first triumphant One-Day International (ODI) against South Africa has encouraged national selectors to consider more youngsters for the upcoming home series against Sri Lanka.

The national selection committee will hold its first meeting on Wednesday to mull over squads for the limited overs leg on the inaugural day of the Departmental Twenty20 tournament starting in Lahore.

Pakistan will play two Twenty20s and five ODIs against Sri Lanka from December 11-27 before the three-match Test series in the UAE.

It has been learnt that the selectors are keen to give more youngsters the opportunity for this assignment after Anwar and Bilawal proved their selection choices.

“The focus is on the youngsters,” an official close to the selection panel told The Express Tribune.

“The performance of the two debutants is encouraging for the selectors as well because it’s not easy to drop senior players.

“This is this main reason why selectors will assemble during the Twenty20 event — they want to assess the youngsters’ performance during the matches.”

The official added that talented left-handed opener Sharjeel Khan has emerged as a strong candidate to get the nod for a place in the Pakistan team.

The 24-year-old from Hyderabad has been in supreme form, scoring 260 runs from three matches at the President’s Cup One-Day Tournament, including a knock of 194 runs from 124 deliveries.

‘Gul, Babar to prove fitness’

The selectors will also assess the fitness of experienced fast-bowler Umar Gul and left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar.

Gul has been out of the international scene after suffering a knee injury in March during the tour of South Africa. On the other hand Babar, who sustained a hand injury last month during the Test series against South Africa in the UAE, was not named for the ongoing series against the Proteas.

“Both are in contention,” said the official. “They are said to be fit and the selectors will assess them during the domestic Twenty20 event. They will also seek advice from doctors regarding their fitness before making a decision.”

IMC members meet in Lahore

The Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) Interim Management Committee (IMC) held a meeting on Tuesday in Lahore under the body’s chairman, Najam Sethi.

Several matters relating to the PCB affairs were in the agenda of the IMC meeting that was also attended by its members Shaharyar Khan, Naveed Akram Cheema, Zaheer Abbas and Haroon Rasheed.

The PCB was supposed to share the excerpts of the meeting; however the information was not received till the time this report was filed.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 27^th, 2013.

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