Selectors seek clarification of role

Officials’ term ends next month before World Twenty20.

KARACHI: The national team selectors have urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to clarify their position regarding the selection of players from the upcoming domestic Twenty20 (T20) tournament.

Although the national event is significant for the players hoping to make their place in the squad for the Asia Cup and World T20, the selection panel remains unsure of its role in the proceedings due to their own uncertain future.

“This isn’t the ideal situation to prepare for a mega event like the World T20, as there is uncertainty all around,” one of the selectors told The Express Tribune.



“The domestic T20 tournament is very important because it will lead up to Asia Cup and World T20. But here we are in a vague position and there is no guarantee that we will remain in office to select the team for the mega events. We urge PCB to clarify our role” concluded the selector.

It is pertinent to mention that the selection of the final squad for the World T20 will be tricky this time around since there are many stakeholders in various departments of the game who would be on show in the tournament set to start in Rawalpindi on February 6.

In terms of openers, Shahzaib Hasan has emerged as a strong contender due to his extraordinary performances that include the fastest century in first-class as well as one-day domestic competitions this season.

Nasir Jamshed also remains a contender if he does well in the upcoming event and may give a tough time to Sharjeel Khan and Ahmed Shehzad.

The quartet is part of the provisional 30-man squad announced last month.

Meanwhile, there is an embarrassment of riches in the wicket-keeping department too and the form of Umar Akmal, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Kamran Akmal will keep the selectors on their toes when the time comes to pick of them.

In the bowling department Umar Gul, Sohail Tanvir, Junaid Khan, Bilawal Bhatti, Anwar Ali Muhammad Talha, Mohammad Irfan, Zulfiqar Babar, Raza Hasan and Abdul Rehman would be fighting for the available spots.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 4^th, 2014.

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