Re: Razzaq out - ODI squad for Australia
If this report is true, I for one would be very happy. Need to get rid of Shoaib Malik (Mr. Politics) from this tour as well. I would like to see Naved Yasin make the debut. I have seen his stats while following Pakistani domestic cricket. He is in awesome form with that bat and he is young. I hope he gets selected and gets a chance to show off his talent in ODIs inshaAllah. We need new crickets. How Umar Akmal & Mohammad Aamir have impressed us and given us hope for a brighter Pakistani cricket future in such a short time.
DAWN.COM | Sport | Younis? selection on the cards for Australia ODI series
LAHORE: While young in-form batsman from Multan Naved Yasin is very much likely to get the selectors’ nod for the forthcoming five-match One-day International series against Australia, five others including former captain Younis Khan are set to make the squad.
Well-informed sources told Dawn that the national selection committee has almost completed its homework to pick the squad for the ODI series set to begin from Jan 22 after the third Test ends in Hobart on Jan 18, and have decided to give chance to youngsters after the team’s pathetic performance in the Test rubber.
Besides Younis and Naved, the others are Shahid Afridi, Fawad Alam, Rao Iftikhar and Khalid Latif who will join the team Down Under. Misbah-ul-Haq owing to his poor run in Tests, Faisal Iqbal, Danish Kaneria, Mohammad Sami and Khurram Manzoor will return from Australia to adjust the abovementioned six players.
The left-handed Naved has caught the eyes of the selectors by scoring a massive 1055 runs for Multan at a healthy average of 70.33 in the recently concluded Quaid-i-Azam Trophy. In the ongoing Pentangular Cup, he has also scored 93 runs in the lone innings for the Rest of Pakistan squad.
However, Asad Shafiq, who played a key role in Karachi Blues’ Quaid-i-Azam Trophy win this year and being the top scorer of the event with 1104 runs has been ignored, sources said.
Interestingly, Fawad had been recalled by the PCB hurriedly after Pakistan lost the Melbourne Test. Though he was not playing in that Test, Fawad with Abdur Rauf was called back on Jan 1 and now he will again be travelling to Australia.
Sources said Khalid Latif will replace Khurram, whose stay with the squad remained as picnic after only playing the first Test against New Zealand.
Paceman Rao, who has no outstanding performance in ODIs in the recent past, will replace Sami. Younis’ return to the team after taking rest from the series against New Zealand will be demanding much from the seasoned batsman in the series against the world champions.
Former captain Younis, who took rest on the eve of the Test series against New Zealand after losing the ODI series to the same side in the UAE, is struggling for form.
He tried to strike form in domestic cricket but could not play any big innings in the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy final, while representing Habib Bank, against Karachi Blues. In the ongoing Pentangular Cup too Younis is yet to play a big knock.
But chief selector Iqbal Qasim had already said on Thursday that Younis was a great player, and regardless of his form in domestic cricket, could be sent to Australia.
Recently, current skipper Mohammad Yousuf has also requested the PCB to send Younis to Australia.
Moreover, sources said there was a question mark over Shoaib Malik’s inclusion in the ODI squad. For it, sources said, Malik will have to play the third Test.
The tour selection committee, sources added, wanted to include Shoaib in the playing XI for the Sydney Test but he was not ready, saying he had a problem in his shoulder.
Similarly, sources said, Kamran Akmal, primarily responsible for Pakistan’s loss in Sydney Younis Khan … under spotlight once again?
due to his appalling glovework, may also be called back if the tour selection committee goes with him for the third Test, ignoring selectors’ replacement Sarfraz Ahmed who will be leaving for Australia on Saturday.
Meanwhile, sources said an announcement from Abdul Razzaq on Thursday that he had fractured one of his right-hand fingers on the same day (Thursday) while playing a club match, created confusion.
Sources claimed that a PCB doctor Mohammad Riaz had informed the board last Monday that the veteran all-rounder had fractured his finger.
Sources claimed it is a possibility that Razzaq made the announcement after coming to know he would not be chosen for the ODI series; so, it is better to be on the injury list instead of being labelled as ignored.
All-rounder Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, who along with Afridi is already in Australia playing Twenty20 cricket there, is also likely to get a place in the team.
