Test team selection – What went wrong

Pakistani Test squad selected for the Australian series starting from 21 November 2019 – Comments and proposals

Test Squad:
Test squad-Azhar Ali (captain), Abid Ali, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Imam-ul-Haq, Imran Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed , Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Musa Khan, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Yasir Shah

1. Azhar Ali He is the first Pakistani batsman to hit a double-hundreds in Test in Australia and he is the first visiting opener who made a double-hundred at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. We pray and hope that Azhar Ali will lead the team with even better examples of his performances in the four Test match innings. In any team game there is no better tonic for its members than outstanding performance of its leader.

2. Abid Ali He has proved his mettle in the ODI version. Now PCB has reposed confidence in his abilities for the Test matches. It is hoped that he will come out with flying colours from the toughest test of his life which will automatically catapult him to overnight stardom. Not selecting Abid Ali for the T20 matches squad is another proof of the failure of the chief selector, immaturity and lack of acumen of the new T20 captain, absolute oversight failure of the highly paid CEO PCB and total collapse of command of the exalted office of the chairman PCB.

3. Asad Shafiq An automatic choice for selection in the Test squad.

4. Babar Azam He is the only cricketer in Pakistan who can get automatic selection in any team of the world.

5. Haris Sohail In recent times he has successfully worked hard to improve his game and has earned permanent selection in the Test team. Mind it he is NOT T2O material where he has been selected without any understanding of the game by the PCB stalwarts.

6. Imam ul Haq Either Fawad Alam or Sami Aslam should have selected in place of Imam ul Haq who also needs a lot of improvement in his fielding abilities. But the biggest tragedy has been his selection in the T20 squad.

7. Imran Khan He has been recalled after a long absence and is a shining example of the chief selectors poor judgement. PCB must repeat must intervene immediately to correct this grave selection blunder and replace him with Haris Rauf.

8. Iftikhar Ahmad Absolutely wrong choice of the chief selector keeping in view of the availability of better options viz. Muhammad Nawaz and Omar Khan.

9. Kashif Bhatti There was hardly any justification for including an uncapped player who is in his 34th year. This investment is highly unjustified considering that 29 years accomplished player Junaid Khan has been ignored.

10. Muhammad Abbas Fit selection, however, our bowling coach should teach him to increase his speed to at least 135 KMPH and batting coach should work with him to improve his below average batting abilities.

11. Muhammad Rizwan He has earned his selection and now must prove his abilities as wicket keeper cum batsman in the Test arena.

12. Musa Khan Correct selection and now onus is on the bowling coach to fine tune his skills to destroy the batting line up of the Australian team with his speed and in the air movement specially in the day night pink ball Test match.

13. Naseem Shah He is youngest player in the squad at the age of 16+ years (DoB 15 February 2003). However, not considering for selection Haris Rauf and Junaid Khan is unpardonable act of the chief selector and CEO PCB who must be made answerable for these unexplainable selection blunders.

14. Shaheen Shah Afridi Right selection of a very deserving player.

15. Shan Masood Either of three batsmen viz. Umar Amin/Ehsan Ali/Khurram Manzoor should have been preferred over selection of Shan Masood.

16. Yasir Shah Automatic choice of the ace spinner of Pakistan.
Syed Nayyar Uddin Ahmad