[Report] Kamran Akmal out, Umar Akmal in for Pakistan's ICC Champions Trophy squad

[MenInG]

LAHORE: Pakistan opener Kamran Akmal is set to face the axe for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy after his poor showing in the West Indies, with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) selection committee, headed by chief selector Inzamamul Haq, planning to bring in former ODI skipper Azhar Ali to line up alongside opener Ahmad Shahzad for the mega event.

Selectors gave the 35-year-old former wicketkeeper another chance to prove his mettle in the international arena following good performances in the domestic first-class season and the recently-concluded Pakistan Super League.

However, a dismal showing in the ODI series against the West Indies where he registered scores of 47, 21 and naught in the three matches he played, has forced the selectors to consider dropping him for the prestigious June 1-18 event.

On the other hand, Kamran’s brother, Umar Akmal, who missed the West Indies tour because of poor fitness, is in line to be included in the ICC Champions Trophy squad with Asif Zakir expected to make for the 26-year-old.

Inzamam, meanwhile, revealed that the selection committee is planning to observe the players in a few more matches of the ongoing domestic one-day tournament, the Pakistan Cup, before announcing the final squad for the Champions Trophy.

“We are planning to wait a few more days before announcing the final squad for the Champions Trophy as we want to observe some players’ performances in the ongoing domestic one-day cup. Aamer Yamin and a few others players are performing well in this cup and it will be unfair on them if we announced the team early. April 25 is the last day to submit the final squad to the ICC and we will announce the squad before that,” said Inzamam.

Preliminary squad

Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Fakhar Zaman, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Fahim Ashraf/Aamir Yamin, Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali, Wahab Riaz,, Junaid Khan, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/1390968/kamran-akmal-umar-akmal-icc-champions-trophy/

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

not a fan of Kamran in the team, but if if anyone needs to make way, its Shezhad

Umar's return will also be stupid, we never make him work for a return, just feed his sense of entitlement

 

[Mamoon]

Don't mind either Kamran or Umar on the Akmal quota, as long as the latter passes the fitness Test. This means that Hafeez is probably going to open with Shehzad with Umar slotting in at number 6.

 

[Mir jibran]

no harris sohail

 

[Mamoon]

Would like Shehzad to work with Arthur for a year or so. In the short-term, Kamran is a better option, but Shehzad is a long-term investment. He has been brought back into the team in all formats and needs to be given a consistent run for a year or so to see if Arthur can help him improve. Dropping him now doesn't help anyone. Also, not a liability in the field like Kamran.

 

[Mir jibran]

so basically its between faheem and amir
rest of the squad is locked in

 

[ask_analyse_act]

no harris sohail

no umar amin

 

[Mir jibran]

no umar amin

i think they ll get their chances after ct
maybe this ct is last chance for hafeez and malik to prove themselves

 

[Citizen4]

Pathetic selection.
Umar is even worse than Kamran right now.
I'd take any hack or any young dynamic player instead of this Umar Akmal

 

[Citizen4]

at this point, I'm sure that Umar knows some horrible secrets of PCB, and he blackmails them to get in the team.

 

[Barragan]

Kami 23 at 89 SR.

ahmed 25 at 67 SR.

Basically, Kami's SR is too high for this team and must be culled.

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

please no Umar Akmal at no 6.
Either Umar should open or shouldn't be part of the team.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

Azhar Ali was rightly dropped. He is a limited batsman just like Shehzad & Fakhar 2.0.


Not selecting Ahsan, Zeeshan & Rafay for Pakistan Cup was criminal. Maafia's and insecure sick seniors destroy Pakistan Cricket.

 

[Pete Rose]

An odi line up with Azhar, Shehzad, Malik, Hafeez, sarfaraz: wow

 

[Markhor]

Don't get why Azhar has been recalled. If the plan was for him to return for the Champions Trophy then why drop him for the West Indies in the first place ?

I don't rate Kamran but I'd have dropped Shehzad before him due to his SR issues. With Azhar and Shehzad we're back to square one.

Also, on what basis is Umar Akmal back ? Has his fitness issues resolved already ?

This batting unit seems good for 260, but forget about putting 300+ totals.

 

[asma_cricfan]

I would hold my bashing until i see the team but i must say on the inclusion of akmal that pakistan is rightly called one of the most corrupt country in the world.

 

[Adil_94]

should have dropped Shehzad for Umar and brought Azhar in as a backup opener

 

[Syed1]

Inzi the revolutionary. Recycling TTFs should be the title of his resume.

Azhar Ali has not played a List A match since being dropped, what has he done to deserve reselection?

Umar Akmal is a crappy batsman with a tandoori type fitness and still gets a recall.

Utterly pathetic.

 

[Anis10]

Oh please do not bring back Azhar Ali, open with Shehzad and Hafeez, put Umar at 6 or 7 and also include Umar Amin and Harris Sohail in the squad and drop Fakhar and the Asif Zakir guy.

Hafeez
Shehzad
Babar
Haris
Malik
Sarfraz
Umar
Shadab/Imad
Wahab
Amir
Hasan

 

[MeanAndGreen]

Is the Champions Trophy some sort of joke for the selectors and management? Do they want to see Pakistan lose? Nobody with an ounce of cricketing knowledge would be proceeding with selections like these. I hope Mickey isn't involved in the selection of Azhar Ali when he is constantly harping on about playing modern cricket in PCs. Surely he has no say in these selections.

This really does beg the question; why were Umar and Azhar dropped for the WI series and what have they done to change the selector's minds? Azhar Ali hasn't even played LA cricket. Umar Akmal's form, fitness and mental capacity continues to plummet. Why were Asif Zakir and Fahim Ashraf selected in the first place?

I refuse to believe that these selectors are legitimately sitting down and putting thought to these selections. Do they watch any modern-day cricket? We conceded 444 in England last summer and instead of finding more dynamic players for our batting line we are reverting to Azhar Ali - a batsman who is considered slow even for test standards? A batting line of Azhar, Shehzad Hafeez, Sarfraz with garbage bowlers like Wahab and Junaid will rightly be smashed left, right and centre in every game they play.

It seems like the selectors put 25 names in a hat and pick randomly for every series. This is just another rinse-repeat cycle; we will fail miserably at the Champions Trophy, receive false hopes for a 'new dawn' and then see the same players return for 2019 WC. Its moments like these when you can't feel that PAK cricket is doomed and sadly, due to the country's own board. Unbelievable, appalling effort from a disgraceful administration that should be ashamed to represent their country.

 

[msb314]

not a fan of Kamran in the team, but if if anyone needs to make way, its Shezhad

Umar's return will also be stupid, we never make him work for a return, just feed his sense of entitlement

Sorry but if it comes down to Umar Akmal vs Kammy and Shehzad - I would always bet my bottom dollar that Kammy and Shehzad will always outperform Jr. No question about it since Umar has shown little signs that he has improved since being dropped.

What are his domestic stats and results that are leading to his recall?

Now if we were talking about Haris Sohail - that would be a completely different story as I would be willing to sacrifice several individuals on our team to make him play at 4.

 

[MeanAndGreen]

This team will rightly be humiliated in front of the world in England. The gap between us and the other 7 nations at this tournament is just too big. The West Indies deserved to be ahead of us. It will be comical watching a top order of Azhar, Shehzad and Hafeez bat against India and South Africa. Untalented and mentally weak cricketers.

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

Sorry but if it comes down to Umar Akmal vs Kammy and Shehzad - I would always bet my bottom dollar that Kammy and Shehzad will always outperform Jr. No question about it since Umar has shown little signs that he has improved since being dropped.

What are his domestic stats and results that are leading to his recall?

Now if we were talking about Haris Sohail - that would be a completely different story as I would be willing to sacrifice several individuals on our team to make him play at 4.

Umm if I didn't make it clear enough, I'm against Umar's return, read my post again

 

[Syed1]

This team will rightly be humiliated in front of the world in England. The gap between us and the other 7 nations at this tournament is just too big. The West Indies deserved to be ahead of us. It will be comical watching a top order of Azhar, Shehzad and Hafeez bat against India and South Africa. Untalented and mentally weak cricketers.

I hope CT is the last series of Inzi as chief selector. He needs to fired ASAP. Worst selector in our history.

 

[msb314]

Umm if I didn't make it clear enough, I'm against Umar's return, read my post again

Okay

 

[msb314]

I hope CT is the last series of Inzi as chief selector. He needs to fired ASAP. Worst selector in our history.

Haroon Rashid was one of the better ones we have had in the last few years.

Gave chances to young players like Shehzad, Haris, Fawad Alam, Sharjeel etc.

 

[Hawkeye]

Kami 23 at 89 SR.

ahmed 25 at 67 SR.

Basically, Kami's SR is too high for this team and must be culled.

Basically this.

Kamran would actually enjoy batting on good surfaces in the Champions Trophy.

He's one of those guys who can give us good starts against fast bowlers. You can NOT expect that from Ahmed Shehzad or Azhar Ali, and the likes.

Kami should've been tested in CT and then a decision made to either continue or drop. But.... INZI the revolutionary, strikes again.


Umar Akmal is badly needed, so that's a good decision. We have Malik the anaemic-against-pace-bowling . Who cannot be expected to give us good finishing against pace bowlers.

Basically Malik will fail you against all the top 4-5 sides.

 

[Hawkeye]

An odi line up with Azhar, Shehzad, Malik, Hafeez, sarfaraz: wow

You'd expect Hafeez to score against pacers and spinners on batting surfaces like in CT.

But.. others are hopeless cases. Sarfraz will also milk the spinners for some runs.. but others are all passengers.

 

[Markhor]

I hope CT is the last series of Inzi as chief selector. He needs to fired ASAP. Worst selector in our history.

Haroon Rashid and Iqbal Qasim were even worse but I cannot defend Inzy's recalling of Azhar and Shehzad. Why can't our team management see the glaring flaws that everyone else can in these two players who've been worked out time and again ?!

What was the point of calling up Asif Zakir if wasn't to play a single game in the West Indies before being dropped ?

On the plus side, at least we're grooming a pace bowling AR in Amir Yamin who Inzy has noticed.

 

[shah_1]

Most likely line up

Azhar
Shahzad
Babar
Hafeez
Malik
Sarfraz
Umar Akmal
Shadab Khan/Imad Wasim
Mohammad Amir
Hasan Ali
Junaid Khan/Wahab Riaz

Pathetic team

 

[MenInG]

The One Akmal policy.

 

[MeanAndGreen]

I hope CT is the last series of Inzi as chief selector. He needs to fired ASAP. Worst selector in our history.

They'll replace him with Haroon Rashid.

I remember post-Champions Trophy in 2013 feeling humiliated after a 1st round exit. I can't believe that not only are we going to get knocked out first round again, but our team consists of basically all the main culprits of the last exit. I am somewhat thankful that Kamran got dropped otherwise I may have lost my mind completely!

Goes to show the current state of PAK cricket. A bunch of incompetent, corrupt amateurs pretending to be cricket administrators, coaches and players.

 

[MeanAndGreen]

Yes, we don't have quality domestic players. We don't have any quality hitters and pacers. But what we do have is a handful of quality timers and stroke players in Amin, Haris, Hussain Talat, Aamer Yamin who may never take us to a Top 4 ranking, but have shown a lot more promise than the same old Akmals, Hafeez, Maliks who have done nothing but dampen the spirits of an entire generation of PAK fans. Look at Bangladesh; they understand their players don't have the physiques and hitting techniques to compete with AUS, SA, ENG. They took a note of their strengths; playing % cricket, manipulating the field, timing the ball and established their own Limited Overs identity. Our best bet was to adhere to this formula and establishing a line-up that follows this criteria and bats deep.

I don't understand how a selector can genuinely put forward someone like Azhar Ali as an opener for a 2017 ICC tournament. That for me is worse than corruption; it is plain and simple incompetence.

 

[fasihulhaq94]

so one akmal manages to go to CT either way

 

[JibranAnsari]

So chota akmal is fit now? Or did the 75 which ended in a stupid fashion won over the selectors ignoring his fitness issues.

 

[Amirforpresident]

One question people: what has Umar done to make a comeback?
I absolutely dont understand on what basis Inzy selects players.

 

[IMMY69]

Glad Kamran is out.
His pathetic feilding and drop catches would negate any runs he flukes at the top of the order.

 

[IMMY69]

Angry that Umar Akmal may get selected.
The bloke is empty between the ears and no amount of "talent" is going to make up for the lack of common sense.

 

[hadi123]

Expected great things from Inzi as a selector but this squad is not good. Sohail Khan should be there as should Haris Sohail. Fahim Ashraf is awful, Aamer Yamin should definitely be picked over him.

 

[Hamza_]

On what basis is Umar Akmal being even considered? Both Akmals should be out

 

[Syed1]

On what basis is Umar Akmal being even considered? Both Akmals should be out

There has to be a minimum of one Akmal in any Pakistani side. Dealing hoi wi hai peechay se.

 

[Arsalan Pro]

Akmal goes out, Akmal comes in.

 

[Arsalan Pro]

With Azhar Ali and Ahmed Shehzad opening, darkest days in Pakistan cricket are ahead.

I expect the score after these two get out to be: 22/2 in 10.

 

[Ashraful_Rox]

Doesn't Pakistan have any attacking batsmen like Sharjeel? Sharjeel is being missed badly here

 

[Hamza_]

Umar Amin should be selected to open.

 

[Hamza_]

Doesn't Pakistan have any attacking batsmen like Sharjeel? Sharjeel is being missed badly here

No, None of others are fluent players. Imran Butt, Imam Ul Haq.etc are all Tuk Tuk.

Less said about Manzoor and Fakhar, The better, They better both are ugly hacks.

 

[Canistani Hero]

Ahmed Shehzad and Azhar Ali should be specialist test openers. No need for their 70 strike rates in LOI's. Azhar understands his game, Ahmed needs to stop hiding behind his aggressive myth.

This would be my 15

1) K Akmal
2) U Akmal
3) B Azam
4) Hafeez
5) Sarfraz
6) Malik
7) Yamin
8) Shadab
9) Amir
10) Hasan
11) Junaid

12) U Amin
13) H Sohail
14) I Wasim
15) W Riaz

I would pick Rumman ahead of Wahab but that probably won't happen. Haris, U Amin and A Yamin should be kept tight with the team, they are a part of the future.

 

[Sarfarazian92]

Kamran > Azhar

 

[lahoriyah1234]

Who ever is going to be selected. It will on depend on Captain, what kind of brand cricket he wants his team to play. Does he want to make them into a champion team. Then he must install or inject the mentality of Winners. They must believe that they can Win this Trophy.

Being Agressive Captain, doesnt mean you dont play good batsmen and just play sloggers to make a team out of it.

A good captain can make a best use of Player like Azhar Ali as well. At the moment Pakistan dont have players who can Bat 50 overs apart from Babar Azam.

I would look at the situation and see do I have good enough batsmen to play 50 overs if not then Azhar ali should be in playing 11 in English conditions.


Asif Zakir and Umer Amin should have been tested against WI. But this Management team has acted cowardly so far to take risk and find good batsmen. Going back to Hafeez and Shahzad was backward step, because if they perform in 1 or 2 games management get stuck with them again. Then when they fail or you need to be dropped again.

Rashid Latif made an excellent point that neither in Misbah or Afridi captaincy in odi we never gave any new batsmen chances, that is why we are in a position where we are not sure if WE CAN TAKE RISK WITH THEM IN CHAMPION TROPHY.

Either move forward complete or we will keep suffering like 2015 WC performances.

My team for CT would be this.

Umar Akmal Opener
Azhar Ali - Opener
Babar
Sarfraz A
Shoaib Malik
Asif Zakir/ Harris sohail if he is fit
Imad Wasim
Shabab khan
Amir
Ali
Sohail Khan/ Mohammed Abbas i like him he can be handy in seaming conditions.

 

[BA56]

The torture continues, Inzi has had a year in the job and we have seen nothing change except for Hasan Ali and Shadab Khan coming in. More of the same to continue, we are done until Inzi continues in this job.

 

[lahoriyah1234]

The torture continues, Inzi has had a year in the job and we have seen nothing change except for Hasan Ali and Shadab Khan coming in. More of the same to continue, we are done until Inzi continues in this job.

Someone like Rashid latif or even Mohammed Wasim can go down as a good people for selectors. Rashid Knowledge of domestic is amazing so is wasim he is very good.

 

[Kashmiri_Pak_fan]

Reports are Sohail khan is also being considered

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

The torture continues, Inzi has had a year in the job and we have seen nothing change except for Hasan Ali and Shadab Khan coming in. More of the same to continue, we are done until Inzi continues in this job.

Actually I am done with all the selectors.
They have no knowledge of domestic players, dont bother to watch matches and no vision.

I would say the regular pp posters would do a better job then these selectors. Actually Pretty sure about it.

 

[MMHS]

Expected great things from Inzi as a selector but this squad is not good. Sohail Khan should be there as should Haris Sohail. Fahim Ashraf is awful, Aamer Yamin should definitely be picked over him.

May I ask, why did you expect great things from the most laid back, lazy, lobbyist, vision less, unfit & hot headed player in PAK's history, as CS, which is totally different job from batting in the middle?

 

[BA56]

May I ask, why did you expect great things from the most laid back, lazy, lobbyist, vision less, unfit & hot headed player in PAK's history, as CS, which is totally different job from batting in the middle?

Because what else can one do except hope for good things? The most we can hope for is someone rational but somehow just keep getting more of the same. But hope is undefeated.

 

[MMHS]

Because what else can one do except hope for good things? The most we can hope for is someone rational but somehow just keep getting more of the same. But hope is undefeated.

Inzi is the last person to expect that he'll be some revolution. This guy took half of PAK team to ICL after his retirement (almost dragged to retire), he arranged oath taking against an young Captain at his place & he debuted 3 players in 4 years of his Captaincy - compared to him, I'll take Misbah as CS any given day. After Illyas, Qasim, Moin & Rashid, PCB wanted a star name for the wrong job & they picked the worst one.

 

[Speedster777]

Pathetic.

 

[Hasan123]

Inzi is proving to be a pathetic selector. Azhar Ali has no place in odis. I would prefer Kami over him. Why not go for Umar Amin or Talat, they will give us a seam bowling option and also they are left handers. Which helps because our batting line up is stacked with right handed accumulators.

Don't mind Umar Akmal selection. Not like we have many big hitters in domestic cricket.

Hopefully Yamin is selected. And also would prefer Sohail Khan or another domestic bowler over Wahab who is a lottery.

 

[SARJ_BD]

on the basis of which performance did umar akmal get the call??
Which league does he play? Please name it i want to see the league

plus peple who what umar akmal in opening slot, did you ever see him opening in any domestic series? How come yo know he will do good in opening?

 

[hitthestump]

It's a farce that we insisted on sticking with TTF's rather than grooming youngsters in the recent LOI series that Pakistan have played. Now we have basically no choice but to bring Azhar and Umar back because the CT is hardly time to experiment. Inzi is terrible and has got to go.

 

[ask_analyse_act]

i think they ll get their chances after ct
maybe this ct is last chance for hafeez and malik to prove themselves

Cannot blindly pair it up with hafeez... hafeez has been terrible since the last english summer, though he gets fifties, but they were terribly selfish with highest dots...
cannot just add malik to the list... since his return in 2015, he hasnt put a foot wrong so far... also improved his avg and SR...

 

[Syed1]

on the basis of which performance did umar akmal get the call??
Which league does he play? Please name it i want to see the league

plus peple who what umar akmal in opening slot, did you ever see him opening in any domestic series? How come yo know he will do good in opening?

He himself is the captain of Punjab side in the Pakistan Cup and is batting himself at number 4 and here PP experts are saying he should open.

 

[London_Lahori]

Kami fielding played a part, if you're a 35 year old keeper who's not first choice, you better be able to field in this line up.

Good call from the selectors.

 

[msb314]

Inzi the revolutionary. Recycling TTFs should be the title of his resume.

Azhar Ali has not played a List A match since being dropped, what has he done to deserve reselection?

Umar Akmal is a crappy batsman with a tandoori type fitness and still gets a recall.

Utterly pathetic.

Haha what is "tandoori type" fitness?

 

[msb314]

Umar Amin should be selected to open.

Please no - he will bat at a 60 SR and will fail in all games.

On top of that - he is bottler who simply cannot handle international cricket.

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

Only request is Haris Sohail. Rest looks good. Hopefully PSL experience can help with players temperament.

 

[The_Odd_One]

I will prefer Kamran over Umar on current form. Azhar and Shehzad are similar batsmen.

If Pakistan decide to go with Shehzad and Azhar as openers then I do not see Pakistan crossing 250 in any match.

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

I will prefer Kamran over Umar on current form. Azhar and Shehzad are similar batsmen.

If Pakistan decide to go with Shehzad and Azhar as openers then I do not see Pakistan crossing 250 in any match.

So now we have watch Azhar Ali fail in spectacular fashion in CT.

 

[dildildalwalla]

is this for real? One second Umar is unfit, now he is fit again, barely played any matches since the last selection and is right back into the team? lol

Plus, why is Kamran making way exactly? he was pretty decent in the t20s and ok in the ODIs too

what is this, random selection week?

 

[Saurav]

Umar as an opener wouldnt be a bad idea

 

[srh]

I would have dropped both Kamran Akmal and Ahmed Shehzad as ODI openers. Both of them are TTFs on international stage and Pakistan needs to try new openers.

 

[srh]

The One Akmal policy.

can PCB try 0 Akmal policy? No Akmal can make the team on merit right now.

 

[htariq25]

I literally wanna cry after seeing this team. For the last decade we have constantly been selecting ttfs! It's getting ridiculous now. Even Afghanistan has less of a humiliating team than us. Looks like we r gonna have a champions trophy just like last time. Extremely disappointed at inzi as I expected a lot from him. When will we learn and start being fair? When will pakistan become a fair country? When will selectors realize that ttfs are not the way to go?
#notoshehzad
#notohafeez
#notoazhar (in odis)
#notoakmals
#notowahab

 

[phoenix363]

can PCB try 0 Akmal policy? No Akmal can make the team on merit right now.

I think in the early 2000's PCB bought a 1000 plane tickets with 'Akmal' on them. Theyre just trying to get rid of them one series at a time.

 

[TalhaSyed]

The usual PakPassion whine fest which I've seen every time a Pakistani squad has been announced for over the last decade.

I hear Haris Sohail & Umar Amin being mentioned - but on what basis? A century in domestic cricket - is that the criteria for selection in the international team?

Umar Amin was in the squad during the 2013 Champions Trophy - what did he do then? Having played 14 ODIs he has an average of 19, however, he isn't a TTF because because he got 100 against Balochistan - right? Harris Sohail has recently returned to competitive cricket after a long injury break, however, he scored a 100 VS Sindh, so therefore he is clearly ready to play against the Aussies, Saffers and Indians right? How dare the selectors don't pick such prolific batsmen?!?

Replace Azhar Ali and Ahmed Shahzad with new openers - but who are these new openers exactly? Sharjeel & Shahzaib? Well I'm sorry unfortunately they're a bit busy at the moment and can't make it.

How dare the selectors only pick 5 young and upcoming players (Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Imad Wasim, Hasan Ali & Shadab Khan)?!? They should have just sent the Pakistani Under 19 team!! What idiots!

Oh wait - sorry sorry sorry!! I forgot that Babar Azam and Imad Wasim have already been playing for 1.5-2 years - which makes them old by Pakistani fan standards - and we have already decided that both of them are "one dimensional players", who should be dropped from the team so that we can call them TTF's, until they score a century against Khyber Pakhtun so that we can cheer for them and bash the selectors for not picking them in the fricking national team.

Give me a break!!

Sure Umar Akmal is a bit of a debateable pick, however, he was previously dropped due to fitness concerns & if he has rectified that - it's no surprise that the selectors are re-considering him. The question again is - if not Umar, than who? Kami?

The only replacement I can possibly think of is Fawad Alam, however, he has been over looked for so many years by so many selectors/coaches/captains - there must be a reason that he is not seen as someone who doesn't have the technique for international cricket. Plus - even with Fawad - we have enough accumulators in the team - at least Umar MAY provide us with some quick runs as fire power

The fact is that this squad has a mix of young and experienced players and is the best the selectors can do with the players they have at their disposal. If Umar Amin, Harris Sohail or any other young players continue to perform well then of course they deserve a call up. However, a single century does not by any means warrant a call up to play in the Champions Trophy!

People keep moaning and complaining about their not having any youngsters in the team, without thinking about the fact that a third of this squad were no where near the national team 1-2 years ago.

 

[Sports_Psychologist]

The usual PakPassion whine fest which I've seen every time a Pakistani squad has been announced for over the last decade.

I hear Haris Sohail & Umar Amin being mentioned - but on what basis? A century in domestic cricket - is that the criteria for selection in the international team?

Umar Amin was in the squad during the 2013 Champions Trophy - what did he do then? Having played 14 ODIs he has an average of 19, however, he isn't a TTF because because he got 100 against Balochistan - right? Harris Sohail has recently returned to competitive cricket after a long injury break, however, he scored a 100 VS Sindh, so therefore he is clearly ready to play against the Aussies, Saffers and Indians right? How dare the selectors don't pick such prolific batsmen?!?

Replace Azhar Ali and Ahmed Shahzad with new openers - but who are these new openers exactly? Sharjeel & Shahzaib? Well I'm sorry unfortunately they're a bit busy at the moment and can't make it.

How dare the selectors only pick 5 young and upcoming players (Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Imad Wasim, Hasan Ali & Shadab Khan)?!? They should have just sent the Pakistani Under 19 team!! What idiots!

Oh wait - sorry sorry sorry!! I forgot that Babar Azam and Imad Wasim have already been playing for 1.5-2 years - which makes them old by Pakistani fan standards - and we have already decided that both of them are "one dimensional players", who should be dropped from the team so that we can call them TTF's, until they score a century against Khyber Pakhtun so that we can cheer for them and bash the selectors for not picking them in the fricking national team.

Give me a break!!

Sure Umar Akmal is a bit of a debateable pick, however, he was previously dropped due to fitness concerns & if he has rectified that - it's no surprise that the selectors are re-considering him. The question again is - if not Umar, than who? Kami?

The only replacement I can possibly think of is Fawad Alam, however, he has been over looked for so many years by so many selectors/coaches/captains - there must be a reason that he is not seen as someone who doesn't have the technique for international cricket. Plus - even with Fawad - we have enough accumulators in the team - at least Umar MAY provide us with some quick runs as fire power

The fact is that this squad has a mix of young and experienced players and is the best the selectors can do with the players they have at their disposal. If Umar Amin, Harris Sohail or any other young players continue to perform well then of course they deserve a call up. However, a single century does not by any means warrant a call up to play in the Champions Trophy!

People keep moaning and complaining about their not having any youngsters in the team, without thinking about the fact that a third of this squad were no where near the national team 1-2 years ago.

POTW material .. Fans start whining no matter what and that had been going on for a while...

 

[Syed1]

The usual PakPassion whine fest which I've seen every time a Pakistani squad has been announced for over the last decade.

I hear Haris Sohail & Umar Amin being mentioned - but on what basis? A century in domestic cricket - is that the criteria for selection in the international team?

Umar Amin was in the squad during the 2013 Champions Trophy - what did he do then? Having played 14 ODIs he has an average of 19, however, he isn't a TTF because because he got 100 against Balochistan - right? Harris Sohail has recently returned to competitive cricket after a long injury break, however, he scored a 100 VS Sindh, so therefore he is clearly ready to play against the Aussies, Saffers and Indians right? How dare the selectors don't pick such prolific batsmen?!?

Replace Azhar Ali and Ahmed Shahzad with new openers - but who are these new openers exactly? Sharjeel & Shahzaib? Well I'm sorry unfortunately they're a bit busy at the moment and can't make it.

How dare the selectors only pick 5 young and upcoming players (Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Imad Wasim, Hasan Ali & Shadab Khan)?!? They should have just sent the Pakistani Under 19 team!! What idiots!

Oh wait - sorry sorry sorry!! I forgot that Babar Azam and Imad Wasim have already been playing for 1.5-2 years - which makes them old by Pakistani fan standards - and we have already decided that both of them are "one dimensional players", who should be dropped from the team so that we can call them TTF's, until they score a century against Khyber Pakhtun so that we can cheer for them and bash the selectors for not picking them in the fricking national team.

Give me a break!!

Sure Umar Akmal is a bit of a debateable pick, however, he was previously dropped due to fitness concerns & if he has rectified that - it's no surprise that the selectors are re-considering him. The question again is - if not Umar, than who? Kami?

The only replacement I can possibly think of is Fawad Alam, however, he has been over looked for so many years by so many selectors/coaches/captains - there must be a reason that he is not seen as someone who doesn't have the technique for international cricket. Plus - even with Fawad - we have enough accumulators in the team - at least Umar MAY provide us with some quick runs as fire power

The fact is that this squad has a mix of young and experienced players and is the best the selectors can do with the players they have at their disposal. If Umar Amin, Harris Sohail or any other young players continue to perform well then of course they deserve a call up. However, a single century does not by any means warrant a call up to play in the Champions Trophy!

People keep moaning and complaining about their not having any youngsters in the team, without thinking about the fact that a third of this squad were no where near the national team 1-2 years ago.

What's worse than PP'ers having a whine-fest over squad selection?

Other PP'ers having a major whine-fest over PP'ers whine-fest.

 

[Citizen4]

The usual PakPassion whine fest which I've seen every time a Pakistani squad has been announced for over the last decade.

I hear Haris Sohail & Umar Amin being mentioned - but on what basis? A century in domestic cricket - is that the criteria for selection in the international team?

Umar Amin was in the squad during the 2013 Champions Trophy - what did he do then? Having played 14 ODIs he has an average of 19, however, he isn't a TTF because because he got 100 against Balochistan - right? Harris Sohail has recently returned to competitive cricket after a long injury break, however, he scored a 100 VS Sindh, so therefore he is clearly ready to play against the Aussies, Saffers and Indians right? How dare the selectors don't pick such prolific batsmen?!?

Replace Azhar Ali and Ahmed Shahzad with new openers - but who are these new openers exactly? Sharjeel & Shahzaib? Well I'm sorry unfortunately they're a bit busy at the moment and can't make it.

How dare the selectors only pick 5 young and upcoming players (Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Imad Wasim, Hasan Ali & Shadab Khan)?!? They should have just sent the Pakistani Under 19 team!! What idiots!

Oh wait - sorry sorry sorry!! I forgot that Babar Azam and Imad Wasim have already been playing for 1.5-2 years - which makes them old by Pakistani fan standards - and we have already decided that both of them are "one dimensional players", who should be dropped from the team so that we can call them TTF's, until they score a century against Khyber Pakhtun so that we can cheer for them and bash the selectors for not picking them in the fricking national team.

Give me a break!!

Sure Umar Akmal is a bit of a debateable pick, however, he was previously dropped due to fitness concerns & if he has rectified that - it's no surprise that the selectors are re-considering him. The question again is - if not Umar, than who? Kami?

The only replacement I can possibly think of is Fawad Alam, however, he has been over looked for so many years by so many selectors/coaches/captains - there must be a reason that he is not seen as someone who doesn't have the technique for international cricket. Plus - even with Fawad - we have enough accumulators in the team - at least Umar MAY provide us with some quick runs as fire power

The fact is that this squad has a mix of young and experienced players and is the best the selectors can do with the players they have at their disposal. If Umar Amin, Harris Sohail or any other young players continue to perform well then of course they deserve a call up. However, a single century does not by any means warrant a call up to play in the Champions Trophy!

People keep moaning and complaining about their not having any youngsters in the team, without thinking about the fact that a third of this squad were no where near the national team 1-2 years ago.

POTW material .. Fans start whining no matter what and that had been going on for a while...

What's worse than PP'ers having a whine-fest over squad selection?

Other PP'ers having a major whine-fest over PP'ers whine-fest.

Since the start of 2015, Umar averages 26 with the SR of 80. That's horrible for a number 6 batsman.
Umar is a lost cause, Azhar is not ODI material. People are rightfully annoyed with this decision.
Recalling TTF is the worst possible thing a selector can do, when the TTF have done literally nothing to deserve a call-up for an ICC event. Azhar have not even played an ODI or List A game since january.
It was a pathetic decision. Inzi should have given talented players a chance but no the politics of PCB won't allow that, a phone call from Prime Minister and Umar is on the plane to England for CT. A request from Chairman who knows next to nothing about cricket and Azhar is on the plane to England for CT.
The fans are disgusted and there are reasons behind this, they are sick of watching these mediocre players.

 

[TalhaSyed]

Since the start of 2015, Umar averages 26 with the SR of 80. That's horrible for a number 6 batsman.
Umar is a lost cause, Azhar is not ODI material. People are rightfully annoyed with this decision.
Recalling TTF is the worst possible thing a selector can do, when the TTF have done literally nothing to deserve a call-up for an ICC event. Azhar have not even played an ODI or List A game since january.
It was a pathetic decision. Inzi should have given talented players a chance but no the politics of PCB won't allow that, a phone call from Prime Minister and Umar is on the plane to England for CT. A request from Chairman who knows next to nothing about cricket and Azhar is on the plane to England for CT.
The fans are disgusted and there are reasons behind this, they are sick of watching these mediocre players.

Can you please give me a few names of 'Talented Players' whom Inzi should give a chance to?

Also - can you please tell me who who has selected 'talented players' such as Hasan Ali, Imad Wasim, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan and Ashraf/Yamin over the last year or so?

POTW material .. Fans start whining no matter what and that had been going on for a while...

Yup - the whining, moaning and complaining has gone on for quite a while - however, posters on here are quite happy to sit by and put up with this crap. For example:

What's worse than PP'ers having a whine-fest over squad selection?

Other PP'ers having a major whine-fest over PP'ers whine-fest.

 

[msb314]

The One Akmal policy.

Is that your opinion or that the official PCB stance?