Personal bias: Rahat Ali makes it in courtesy of Shaharyar

PCB chairman’s bizzare decision deprives Sohail Tanvir of a spot in the 15-man squad.


Nabeel Hashmi February 05, 2015
Rahat Ali has been included in the 15-man squad after Bilawal Bhatti disappointed against New Zealand while Sohail Tanvir was not selected due to Shaharyar Khan’s personal bias. PHOTO: AFP

KARACHI:


Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Shaharyar Khan’s personal bias against Sohail Tanvir has led to the selection of Rahat Ali as he replaced injured Junaid Khan in the final 15-man World Cup squad.


Shaharyar, who is in his second tenure, was set against the selection of Tanvir and wanted someone else to be tried at the mega event. “Chairman Shaharyar had the last word in Tanvir’s snub and this opened the gates for Rahat,” a PCB official told The Express Tribune. “He just didn’t want Tanvir to make the trip for the mega event and wanted the touring selection committee to look at a different option so they decided on Rahat’s name because Misbahul Haq likes him as well.”

Rahat has been a regular feature in the Test side and did a decent job against New Zealand but has only played a single ODI in his career, where he was only given four overs, in which he gave away 34 runs. In 11 Tests, Rahat has claimed 31 wickets at an average of 36.67 and a strike-rate of 72.3.

Initially, Bilawal Bhatti was in consideration after he was sent on the tour of New Zealand but the pacer failed to make any impact, forcing the touring selection committee — which includes chief selector Moin Khan, skipper Misbah and head coach Waqar Younis — to look for a different option.

Bhatti even went on to register the worst bowling figures by a Pakistani in one-day cricket when he went wicketless and conceded 93 runs in his 10 overs in the second ODI.

The touring selection committee had discussed the induction of Tanvir but were clearly told by the chairman that he will not be included in the side.

“PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan, on the recommendation of chief selector Moin Khan, has approved Rahat Ali as a replacement for injured Junaid Khan for the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup,” read a PCB press release. “PCB has sent a request to the ICC Technical Committee to approve Rahat as a replacement. Rahat’s name was not in the list of the 30-member preliminary squad earlier announced for the World Cup.”

Co-selectors stunned over Rahat’s inclusion

The co-selectors involved in the World Cup selection process earlier have been shocked on the selection of ‘mediocre’ Rahat and believe that others were more deserving of a chance instead of the Multan-based bowler.

The co-selectors claimed that they were not even consulted on the matter as technically the touring selection committee is in charge.

“Better options are available and it boggles us as to why Rahat, who has been a mediocre bowler and has played just a single one-day in his career, was sent,” said one of the selectors. “There were options as Tanvir can be handy in those conditions, both with the new ball and the old. Umar Gul has improved his fitness and has a lot of experience, while Muhammad Sami bowled really well recently and is still the fastest bowler in Pakistan.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 6th, 2015.

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COMMENTS (9)

Farhan | 9 years ago | Reply Sami should have been in the team - his last international outing was the Sydney test and he actually bowled very well in that match.
zeeshan aslam | 9 years ago | Reply

Sohail Tanvir is being around for more than a decade, his bowling stats are worst average 36 in ODI and 63 in test. Most of articles of express are ironic, biased and stupid.

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