Shahzaib, Wahab included
In-form batsman Shahzaib Hasan and left-arm fast-bowler Wahab Riaz included for upcoming Twenty20 and ODI series.
KARACHI:
In-form opening batsman Shahzaib Hasan and left-arm fast-bowler Wahab Riaz have been included in the national squad for the upcoming Twenty20 and One-Day International (ODI) series against South Africa that starts on October 26 in the UAE.
While chief selector Mohsin Khan ruled out performances in the recently-concluded Faysal Bank Twenty20 Cup as the reason behind the late inclusion, he contradicted himself immediately by stating that Hasan’s performance in the tournament earned him a place in the squad.
“Both players are in good form and since it’s going to be a tough series, we felt we should include the duo in the squad,” Khan told reporters.
Shahzaib, who scored 281 runs in four Twenty20 Cup matches, scored the only century of the tournament which earned him the best-batsman award while Wahab, who grabbed ten wickets, was declared best bowler of the tournament.
Khan admitted that there was substantial input by the ODI and Twenty20 captain Shahid Afridi for the inclusion of Hasan in the squad but maintained that the duo’s good form was the deciding factor behind their inclusion.
“We got a request from the captain for Hasan and his performance in the domestic tournament compelled us to select him. He was out of form on the tour of England but is a good player and we’re hoping for a better display from him in the series. Riaz is already in the Test squad and we expect a good performance from him as well.”
The inclusion of both players increases the squad to 17.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 19th, 2010.
In-form opening batsman Shahzaib Hasan and left-arm fast-bowler Wahab Riaz have been included in the national squad for the upcoming Twenty20 and One-Day International (ODI) series against South Africa that starts on October 26 in the UAE.
While chief selector Mohsin Khan ruled out performances in the recently-concluded Faysal Bank Twenty20 Cup as the reason behind the late inclusion, he contradicted himself immediately by stating that Hasan’s performance in the tournament earned him a place in the squad.
“Both players are in good form and since it’s going to be a tough series, we felt we should include the duo in the squad,” Khan told reporters.
Shahzaib, who scored 281 runs in four Twenty20 Cup matches, scored the only century of the tournament which earned him the best-batsman award while Wahab, who grabbed ten wickets, was declared best bowler of the tournament.
Khan admitted that there was substantial input by the ODI and Twenty20 captain Shahid Afridi for the inclusion of Hasan in the squad but maintained that the duo’s good form was the deciding factor behind their inclusion.
“We got a request from the captain for Hasan and his performance in the domestic tournament compelled us to select him. He was out of form on the tour of England but is a good player and we’re hoping for a better display from him in the series. Riaz is already in the Test squad and we expect a good performance from him as well.”
The inclusion of both players increases the squad to 17.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 19th, 2010.