World Cup 2019 – Have we lost it before even it has started?

Respected Mr. Imran Khan Sahab.

AoA.

Sir,

With the announcement of Pakistani squad for the World Cup today, it was proved by the PCB that they are still living in the past and have no idea at which level the top cricketing nations have progressed in the ODI game.

Just for your information, the details of the top five highest ODI scores are provided as below:

Highest ODI Team Score in World Cricket
Team Against Score
England Australia 481/6
England Pakistan 444/3
Sri Lanka Netherlands 443/9
South Africa West Indies 439/2

World Cup 2019 – Selection Blunders of the PCB.

The details of the complete fiasco in selection of Pakistani CWC19 are explained as below:

Fakhar Zaman. (Absolutely wrong selection for the CWC19 due to his poor form. FZ regularly gets out on wrong selection of shots, which is a big blot on his performance and poor reflection over the capabilities of the coaches and the NCA management, for wasting a highly talented opening batsman. In fact, Fakhar Zaman’s constant slump in his form demands immediate removal of our batting and head coaches, along with the entire top management of the NCA).

Imam-ul-Haq:- (He is a Test match material forcefully thrust in the CWC squad, only due to the reasons, which has nothing to do with cricket. Nepotism, is a stipulated violation of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Sadly, no one, repeat no one, in the entire PCB set up from top to bottom, is aware that now we are in an age and era where 400+ runs in an ODI innings is becoming a norm, rather than an exception. These days 350 – 375 runs in an ODI innings is not at all a safe score. Under the circumstances, Test brand players like Imam ul Haq, Shoaib Malik, Haris Suhail and Sarfaraz Ahmad (who is sadly out of form) are hardly capable of taking team’s score to near about 275 runs (against Eng, India, NZ, SA & Australian teams).

Abid Ali:- Deserving case. However, it is the duty of the coaches to polish this brave-heart extremely talented player, so that he does not quickly fades, like Fakhar Zaman.

Babar Azam:- In fact, he deserves to be the captain of the team. He is the only player in the team who is an automatic choice for the CWC 19 squad.

Shoaib Malik and Muhammad
Hafeez:- Both these players are absolute relic of the past. When it is a known fact that a player has played his stint and is in his twilight age, you do not select him to just bestow the honour to have participated, in yet an another World Cup.

Sarfaraz Ahmed:- His past performances glaringly reflects that now a days, he is the most non-dependable batsman; and very low, on his confidence level. Resultantly, he was so afraid of his failure that he seems to have intentionally decided not to participate in the Pakistan Cup tournament,

Shadab Khan:- Deserving case.

Imad Wasim:- Deserving case. However, it should be noted and taken care of that the technical committee of the World Cup may not allow his replacement (in case of many years old knee injury aggravation) as ICC rules only allow replacement of a player, if he has suffered some fresh injury, during the period of the World Cup.

Hasan Ali:- Deserving case.

Faheem Ashraf:- Deserving case.

Shaheen Afridi:- Haris Rauf should have been selected in place of (S.A.) and it is earnestly requested to the Patron in Chief of the PCB to still order this correction in selection.

Junaid Khan:- Musa Khan should have been selected in place of (J.K) as M.K is a much higher class bowler, particularly, he can be very lethal in the English conditions. As such, it is earnestly requested to the Patron in Chief of the PCB to still order inclusion of this wonder bowler’s name in the squad for the CWC 19.

Mohammad Hasnain:- Deserving choice.

Haris Sohail:- Undeservedly selected as discussed above. Yes a good prospect for Test matches. If he (H.S) has to be selected then Asad Shafiq and Umar Amin should also be selected for the World Cup.

Muhammad Rizwan:- Non-Selection of this most valuable player (MVP) is the biggest BLUNDER of the PCB management and also an unpardonable crime. Therefore, it is earnestly requested to the Patron in Chief of the PCB to kindly order his (Muhammad Rizwan) immediate inclusion in the World Cup squad along with the inclusion of the following players, as well.

Most deserving swashbuckling and highly talented following three batsmen may also be included in the squad:

1. Suhail Akhtar
2. Ehsan Ali
3. Zeeshan Ashraf

Suhail Khan (best bowling all rounder in the local circuit who tore apart Aussie bowling in an ODI during last tour of our team to NZ & Australia)

Umer Khan:- Most highly rated young spinner of Pakistan.

Wahab Riaz and Ahmad Shahzad may also be announced as reserves for the World Cup squad.

Sir, concluding you are requested to please urgently and personally reconsider the Pakistani squad, so that our team is able to cross over two of the top five ranking teams i.e., England, India, New Zealand, South Africa and Australia so as a bare minimum achievement, Pakistani team is able to enter the second round of the World Cup (with three other teams) to straightaway play the semi final of the tournament.

Best Regards,

Syed Nayyar Uddin Ahmad