http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 include Shahzeb and Wahab Riaz in T20 squad
Pakistani selectors have rewarded the duo of opening batsman Shahzeb http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Hasan-c61990 and Wahab Riaz for their outstanding performances in the recently concluded National T20 cricket tournament that took place at the Qaddafi stadium in Lahore.
The two have been added to Pakistan’s team for the limited over series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 that is set to start in the UAE at the end of this month.
The young opening batsman, Shahzeb, who played for Karachi Dolphins had a memorable tournament where he scored an amazing 281 runs in four matches at an incredible average of 169 runs per innings.
He was dismissed only twice in four matches, and also posted the only hundred of the tournament in a match against the Lahore Eagles.
His effort enabled his team to post the highest score in the domestic T20 competition in Pakistan, a mammoth 243 at more than12 runs per over.
The swashbuckling right hander has been highly recommended by limited overs captain http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482, who wanted him to be a part of the original squad that was to travel for the T20 and ODI series against South Africa.
On the other hand Wahab Riaz, who was a member of the winning team Lahore Lions was also left out of the original team, but forced his way back with an amazing performance.
The left armer took his 10 wickets at an incredible average of 7.7 runs per wicket, even more outrageous is his economy rate of 4.1 runs per over in a competition where runs were made at an average of 9 runs per over.
The selection of the team for the tour was criticised in certain sections of the Pakistani media, that claimed the team was not an ideal one for the series considering the might of the Proteas and the inconsistent performances of the men in green in recent
months.
The selectors finally gave into the demands of the captain and coach as Waqar Younis is believed to have backed Wahab Riaz on the tour of UK and feels that he has the talent to go a long way at the highest level of the game.
The squad, along with members of the Test team, is currently taking part in a conditioning camp at the Qaddafi stadium in Lahore where the players are training under the supervision of Waqar Younis and the newly re-installed manager of the team Intikhab
Alam.
Intikhab Alam, who has remained a controversial figure in the recent past, has once again got the nod for the tour of UAE and many believe that the move is another recipe for disaster for Pakistan cricket.
The aging manager addressed a press conference at the stadium today, where he announced new measures that would severely cut down the interaction of the players with the media.
The Pakistani players and administration are already under check of the ICC, who wants certain reforms in the set-up of cricket in the country as it is greatly perturbed with the declining standard of administration of the game in one of its pivotal member
countries.
Amid the cloud of uncertainty the Pakistani players look to salvage the lost pride of a bruised and battered cricket administration that refuses to throw in the towel, especially the Chairman http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ijaz-Butt-c64128.
The veteran cricket administrator would go down with one of the darkest records in cricketing history, yet there is one thing that he can teach his players, the art of never giving up.
Pakistani fans would hope that their cricketers replicate the stubbornness of the PCB chief on the field as it is the only way that they can pose a threat to the formidable Proteas.
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