This is becoming absolute mess. I am sure they had absolutely no clue of the condition, squad combination or even the core skill set of players, neither what actually is required for the team - now beating about the bush, if some how there is a rabbit hiding under..........
In a squad of 15 you don't need to play 500 International games to fix 10-12 names - these are automatic choices. For rest 3-4 players, what they are doing is shambolic - PAK's cricket heritage demanded better. More or less, WC brings chaos in PCT - from coach change to fixing ban to failed drug test to in fights to captaincy drama ..... this year, team could keep their sanity high, so obviously somewhere else it had to strike.
The way things are moving, apart from Sarfraz & Imam, I doubt who is safe and who would finally make the 15!!!! They had full 2 years to fix one squad for this WC, and now we are stuck with so many questions -
1. Which 7 batsmen are to be picked? MoHa, Malik has a glorious record in UK, and they haven't played in this tour so far, but PCT invested 2 years behind their a$$ for 2 of the most critical spots - No. 4 & 5. Abid came like a comet - made WC squad of 15 after 2 innings, which was knee-jerk action, now dropping him will be knee-jerk reaction. They never tried a 3rd opener for 2 years - if not Abid, it'll be Babar who hasn't opened in ODI for 3 years, .... or MoHa, whose stats as opener outside Asia itself is a class. After investing 1 full year, they dropped Asif when they tried several back-ups whom one shouldn't even consider for WC - now going back to him after 2 decent innings.
2. If Abid is dropped, WHO IS GOING TO BE THE BACK-UP WK? There is no one to cover for Captain, whose recent shape suggests a change in Biryani intake .... keeping (& leading) 9 games in 5 weeks isn't a joke for someone of his shape & age ..... and ICC is not going to let loose for PAK on fitness. Even if so, it's not easy to fly a WK from 8 hours flight distance and ask him to keep in a WC game.
3. If they drop the fast-bowling all-rounder Faheem Ashraf - who is going to contribute with bat from No. 8 - at least on papers? For 2 years, they have charged every drop of fuel including 5 mighty games against ZIM reserves through one turbine - now if they drop him, who'll explain that? There were at least 3 decent prospects in Amad, Yamin & Anwar Ali to give a try - now 1 week before final squad if they drop the only guy perceived to be fast bowling all-rounder, someone should answer it - it's a WC in UK, not in UAE, fast bowlers will be required both for net practice and match practice.
4. If they drop Faheem for Amir and don't consider Shadab for starting XI - PAK's WC attack might end with Amir, Shaheen, Hasan, JK, Imad (who is basically 5th pacer at 90K speed), backed by Hari ....... that's 5 Lefti and one loose cannon ..... it'll be a sight to watch.
5. If Asif is picked, he must have to start, otherwise Rizwan can contribute much, more in field as 12th man ...... if Asif starts, means either they'll drop the guy in red hot form (Hari), or drop a regular bowler to play Asif/Malik at 7 ........
6. If Yasir wasn't in plan, then why he was given 6 games at stress despite his horrible ODI records? It's expected that by the business end of WC, tracks should assist spinners - but, spinners that can turn on drier surfaces ..... why no genuine spinner had been tried for 3 years and now, the only options now left are Imad & Shadab - neither of whom can make the XI on bowling merit only, and both might be struggling for fitness.
FGS someone escalate this to Bare Khan .... at least he can sack this old guy Ehsan Mani ......
