The conversation over Pakistan’s 15-man T20 World Cup team is heating up in the cricketing world as the deadline for the T20 World Cup selection announcement approaches. Although Pakistan’s T20 side appears to be set, they still have a few spots to fill, and several cricketing gurus have weighed in on who should be on the aircraft to the UAE.
Former Chief Selector Inzamam-ul-Haq also shared his thoughts on how the Pakistan 15-man team should look. Inzamam feels that Pakistan’s top-order and bowling unit are very stable and that no major changes need to be made. He stated that the national team’s middle-order is a source of worry, and Pakistan would need to be selective in their squad selection.
Shoaib Malik, a seasoned all-rounder, Mohammad Amir, a former fast bowler, and Shan Masood, the opener, are among Inzamam’s 15-man team. Shoaib Malik’s expertise in the middle order, according to Inzamam, would be essential for Pakistan, and he is the best possible choice out of the bunch.
“You’ve tried Haider (Ali), Azam Khan, and a slew of other middle-order batsmen, but no one has struck. The middle-order is a crucial position. Shoaib Malik is an experienced player. If he accomplishes the job for you till the World Cup, he should definitely be considered,” Inzamam added.
The former captain also encouraged Mohammad Amir to reconsider his retirement from international cricket, claiming that he might be the game-changer in the mega-event. He stated that Amir’s expertise will be invaluable to the national squad during the T20 World Cup.
The 51-year-old also lauded Shan Masood, saying that his achievements in the sixth season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and the inaugural season of the Kashmir Premier League (KPL) merited a spot in the T20 team. Shan, he added, plays risk-free cricket with a high strike rate, and Pakistan may utilize his services if the other openers fail.
Here is Inzamam’s 15-man T20 World Cup team:
- Babar Azam
- Mohammad Rizwan
- Sharjeel Khan
- Shan Masood
- Mohammad Hafeez
- Shoaib Malik
- Asif Ali
- Shadab Khan
- Imad Wasim
- Faheem Ashraf
- Shaheen Afridi
- Mohammad Amir
- Hasan Ali
- Mohammad Wasim Jnr.
- Usman Qadir
