Published: May 20, 2019, 01:48 PM (IST)
Edited: May 20, 2019, 01:48 PM (IST)
Pakistan chief selector Inzamam ul Haq on Monday announced the final 15-member squad for the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup with the pace dup of Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Amir, who were not part of the preliminary squad announced a month back, making their way back in owing to their experience
“The lack of potency of our frontline bowlers in the recent ODI series against England meant that a change was needed. In addition, we now know that we will encounter batting wickets throughout the World Cup campaign,” said Inzamam during the press conference announcing the squad.
“The combination of both these elements, meant that we believed that right now, utilising the World Cup experience and knowledge of Wahab was the correct choice,” he added. ALSO READ: Wahab Raiz, Mohammad Amir in Pakistan’s final 15-member squad for World Cup
Riaz last played an ODI for Pakistan in 2017 against India during the ICC Champions Trophy 2017. But with England routing Pakistan 0-4 in the recently concluded ODI, Inzamam stated that Pakistan needed an experienced hand to lead the bowling attack.
“Wahab has been training and playing club cricket, and the player of his calibre will not face much problem in adapting and adjusting to the gruelling demands of the World Cup. In addition, playing in the World Cup warm up matches, bowling his quota, will have him match-ready.
“The bowling unit during the England ODIs has not clicked as anticipated or expected; if we have at our disposal two vastly experienced pace duo of Amir and Wahab, then it will be foolish not to include them,” added Inzamam.
The final make-up of the squad is:
Openers – Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq
Middle-order batsmen – Asif Ali, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Mohammad Hafeez, Sarafraz Ahmed (captain, wicketkeeper) and Shoaib Malik
Spinners – Imad Wasim and Shadab Khan
Fast bowlers – Hasan Ali, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hasnain, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Wahab Riaz
Pakistan’s World Cup fixtures:
May 24: (warm-up) Pakistan vs Afghanistan, Bristol
May 26: (warm-up) Pakistan vs Bangladesh, Cardiff
May 31: Pakistan vs West Indies, Nottingham
June 3: Pakistan vs England, Nottingham
June 7: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, Bristol
June 12: Pakistan vs Australia, Taunton
June 16: Pakistan vs India, Manchester
June 23: Pakistan vs South Africa, Lord’s
June 26: Pakistan vs New Zealand, Birmingham
June 29: Pakistan vs Afghanistan, Leeds
July 5: Pakistan vs Bangladesh, Lord’s
