Bilal Asif retained in ODIs against Zimbabwe

Misbahul Haq believes off-break bowler is the standout option available to replace Hafeez for England series

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shahryar Khan on Wednesday approved retaining right-arm off-break bowler Bilal Asif in the 16-man squad against Zimbabwe following the recommendation made by the national selection committee.

The 30-year-old will be tested against Zimbabwe to see if he can fill in the space for banned off-spinner Muhammad Hafeez.

PCB chief selector Haroon Rasheed said that the request was made by Test captain Misbahul Haq keeping in view the batting line-up of the England team which will tour Pakistan in mid-October for which the 15-man squad has already been announced but there is still one spot left to be filled in and Bilal might be able to grab that if he displays his effectiveness against Zimbabwe in ODIs.

“The request to retain Bilal had been made by the team management, as conveyed by manager Intikhab Alam,” said Haroon, quoted by a PCB press release.

“In a separate discussion with Misbah, it was put forth by the Pakistan Test captain that since the England team contains five left-handed batsmen and because of Hafeez's inability to bowl at international level, we were left with no off-spin bowling options in the Test squad.”

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Haroon also quoted Misbah as saying that Bilal was the ‘standout’ option available to replace Hafeez as the off-spin bowling option.

“Misbah suggested that since Bilal is presently the standout available option in the domestic circuit, so if we can try him in the ODI matches against Zimbabwe for assessing his off-spin bowling credentials, it may help us in case we intended to add him as the 16th member in the Test squad against England.

“We have already picked two left-arm spin bowlers in the Pak ‘A’ team to the UAE for this purpose but if Bilal is found up to the mark in Zimbabwe, then we can have him in the Test squad as an off-spinner along with leggie Yasir Shah and left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar.

“The suggestion was discussed by the selectors, as well as with head coach Waqar Younis, and there was unanimity of view on the issue.”