To the World Cup: ‘Match-winner’ Umar makes it into the final 15

PCB official reveals 24-year-old beats off competition from Kamran and Rizwan

KARACHI: The explosive but inconsistent Umar Akmal has won the race to get into Pakistan’s 15-man World Cup squad over brother Kamran Akmal and outside contender Muhammad Rizwan after the selection committee met with head coach Waqar Younis and Misbahul Haq on Tuesday.

Chief selector Moin Khan deliberated on the squad with fellow selectors Wajahatullah Wasti, Muhammad Akram, Shoaib Muhammad, Ijaz Ahmed, Saleem Yousuf, head coach Waqar Younis, skipper Misbahul Haq, while Haroon Rasheed also took part in the discussion as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) coordinator.

There were question marks regarding Umar because of his penchant for flattering to deceive, and a general feeling prevails that he is yet to do justice to the talent he possesses but has shown only in glimpses.

The 24-year-old Umar has represented Pakistan in 102 ODIs so far, scoring 2,732 runs at an average of 35.94 with two centuries and 19 fifties.

“Umar is a genuine match-winner on his day and that reputation has helped him get into the squad,” an official close to the selection process told The Express Tribune. “Although he has been inconsistent, on his day he can turn a match on its head single-handedly. We need players who are good against fast short-pitched bowling and Umar has played well against the genuine quicks in his career, while he is also a reserve wicket-keeping option.”

Sohaib Maqsood has also satisfied the selection committee with his fitness by appearing for the Balochistan Warriors in the Pentangular Cup match, scoring a 28-ball 33 against the Sindh Knights on Tuesday.

The selectors feel that Maqsood did not look in any sort of pain after returning to competitive action from a wrist injury.

Meanwhile, there was a stand-off on the subject of including Nasir Jamshed as the third opener – a request put forward by Waqar and Misbah – but the selectors refused to comply.

Jamshed has failed time and time again and the selection committee felt that the request was not justified. However, the refusal has not gone down too well with Waqar and Misbah.

“Honestly Jamshed hasn’t done anything off late to support his case,” added the official. “Sarfraz has fulfilled that role [of backup opener] previously and if at any stage, we need an opener, then he can do the job.”

Meanwhile, leg-spinner Yasir Shah is leading the race to be included as the genuine spinner over left-arm spinner Raza Hasan and the selectors are not averse to carrying two leg-spinners in the squad; the other being all-rounder Shahid Afridi.

Sohail Khan nudges selectors with six-for

Fast-bowler Sohail Khan, who was an outside contender to be included into the final 15, despite not being included in the initial 30 probables by the PCB, has further strengthened his case by taking six wickets for the Sindh Knights against Balochistan in the Pentangular Cup, with the selectors monitoring closely from the stands.

He is now competing with Wahab Riaz for a place in the pace-attack but the final decision will be taken on Wednesday on the matter as the selectors will sit down for final discussions before announcing the squad.

Among other decisions to be taken, the selectors will also revisit the debate of whether to carry Anwar Ali or Sohail Tanvir as the fast-bowling all-rounder.

 

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