Pakistan drop Amir for World Cup
Pakistan have dropped out-of-form fast bowler Mohammad Amir and included 18-year-old paceman Mohammad Hasnain in their 15-member World Cup squad.
Amir’s exclusion came after the left-armer took only five wickets in 14 ODIs since Pakistan won the Champions Trophy in 2017.
‘‘Amir is the most experienced bowler but his performance was not good enough since the Champions Trophy,’’ chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq said.
‘‘Hasnain will be a surprise package as he bowls at a speed of 150 (kmh) and could win a match for Pakistan on his own. With such an express pace he could put a dent on any team.’’
Hasnain made his ODI debut against Australia in the United Arab Emirates last month, and took two wickets in three matches.
Opening batsman Abid Ali, who scored a century in his ODI debut against Australia, was also selected, along with the regular opening pair of Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ulHaq.
Inzamam said Amir and hard-hitting batsman Mohammad Asif will travel with the squad next week to England, where Pakistan will play a Twenty20 international and a fivematch ODI series ahead of the World Cup.
‘‘These two [Amir and Asif] will provide cover to the World Cup squad and can be drafted into the side by May 23, if required,’’ Inzamam said.
The squad included 11 players who won the Champions Trophy in England by defeating India in the final.
Inzamam conceded the selectors had compromised on the fitness of some players like Imad Wasim and Hafeez, but since these players were part of the team over the last two years, both were picked.
Hafeez has been recovering from the hand injury he sustained during the Pakistan Super League match in the United Arab Emirates while Imad has a troublesome knee.
‘‘I acknowledge we gave favour to Imad despite the fact that he couldn’t get the required points in the fitness test,’’ Inzamam said. ‘‘Hafeez will go through the fitness test once he recovers from the hand injury, but overall I think fitness of our players have improved a lot.’’
Surprisingly, the selectors have ignored Mohammad Rizwan after the wicketkeeperbatsman scored two centuries against Australia in the UAE.
Pakistan’s middle order batting will revolve around Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Shaib Malik, Hafeez and captain Safaraz Ahmed, with the likes of all-rounders Wasim and Faheem Ashraf batting lower down the order.
Shadab Khan is the sole leg-spinner in the side with Wasim bowling left-arm spin and Malik could be utilised as an off spinner, too. Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Junaid Khan and Hasnain are the four specialist fast bowlers.
Meanwhile South Africa kept faith in Hashim Amla and gambled on Aiden Markram as both made the Proteas squad on Thursday.
There were doubts over the inclusion of 36-year-old Amla after a dip in form and his absence for recent games because his father was ill. Fellow batsman Markram was seemingly out of the reckoning for the one-day team until a run of outstanding domestic form led to a public clamor to include the 24-year-old opener.
This year will likely be the last chance for veterans Amla, Faf du Plessis, who captains the team, and Dale Steyn to win the World Cup. JP Duminy and Imran Tahir have already said they will retire from ODIs after the tournament. Those five will be playing at their third World Cup.
The most noticeable absentees are batsman Reeza Hendricks and allrounder Chris Morris.
Test opener Dimuth Karunaratne was named to lead Sri Lanka’s World Cup team despite not having played a one-day international in more than four years.
Karunaratne played his last one-day international during the last World Cup in 2015 against England. He has since been considered a specialist test opener and Sri Lanka Cricket president Shammi Silva said his unexpected success as test captain recently, leading a dispirited team to win both test matches against South Africa, prompted officials to select him for the World Cup.