Mixed reaction from former Pakistan players over the World Cup preliminary squad
Former Pakistan cricketers have supported the 30-man preliminary World Cup squad of Pakistan announced on Tuesday calling it a ‘well balanced squad.’ However, the exclusion of few experienced players was heavily criticized by the cricket
greats of Pakistan.
Three match-winning players Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir were not available for selection because of their alleged involvement in spot-fixing scandal. The trio was suspended by the International Cricket Council in September
last year and has not yet been cleared by the apex governing body. Besides these three, former captain Shoaib Malik, wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal and spinner http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Danish-Kaneria-c1314 were also doubtful names to be included in the preliminary squad.
Akmal, however, was recalled in the list of probables while Malik and Kaneria were ignored. The inclusion of Akmal in the squad has pleased the former Test captain http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zaheer-Abbas-c98435. Abbas, however, showed some disappointment over selectors’
decision to leave behind the experienced middle-order batsman Shoaib Malik.
"I don't know what has happened behind the scenes but I would have liked to see Malik in the World Cup squad because he is an ideal player for the pitches in Sri Lanka, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750," said the Asian Bradman.
Six to seven new faces have also been named in the list of 30-probables which would be axed to 15 by the 19th of this month. Zaheer said that the injection of new blood into the side is a good sign, calling it a step forward for
Pakistan cricket.
Former captain and senior batsman Mohammad Yousuf has also been selected in the preliminary squad. The 36-year-old middle-order batsman was earlier dropped from the Test and T20 leg of the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 tour because of lack of fitness. He
has played 90 Tests and 288 One Day Internationals in his 13-year career and holds a batting average of 52.29 in Tests and 41.71 in ODIs.
Abbas welcomed the inclusion of veteran middle-order batsman in the squad and has urged the selectors to include Yousuf and the newcomers in the ODI squad for New Zealand tour to provide them a chance to test their potential ahead of the
World Cup.
Former chief selector and Test leg-spinner Abdul Qadir also hailed inclusion of Akmal and pace bowler Rana Naved and said that the decision would pay dividends for struggling http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 team.
The omission of Malik and Kaneria, however, was heavily criticized by former cricketers.
"Kaneria is one of the most experienced spinners around and would have been ideal for the pitches in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 and Bangladesh,” said the former Test batsman Basit Ali. “If Kamran Akmal can be cleared for selection, then why the Board have
not cleared Kaneria and Shoaib Malik for selection,” he added further.
Basit Ali also lashed the selectors for ignoring openers http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahzaib-Hasan-c2488 as well as Hammad Azam.
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