Delay In Announcing Pakistan's Squad For ICC T20I World Cup Raises Eye Brows

ISLAMABAD: Despite leading teams including India, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand etc had announced their squads for the upcoming ICC T20I World Cup, a delay from the PCB has raised doubts over the selection criteria and accommodating of blue-eyed players in the mega event.

The ICC World Cup is scheduled to be held in the USA and West Indies from June 1, whereas most of the teams announced their squads last Wednesday. However, Pakistan is still not prepared to announce the squad as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday stated in a statement that the 15-member World Cup squad would be announced after the first T20 against England on May 22.

Meanwhile, PCB also announced the 18-member squad for the upcoming England and Ireland series, however, the squad for the mega event would be finalized after May 22.

Cricket Experts believe announcing a team for such a mega event at the eleventh hour would not be a wise decision. Meanwhile, a timely announcement would motivate, encourage and provide space for the selected players to have full preparation for the event.

On Thursday, the PCB selectors said via media talk, that the after the first T20I at Leeds on May 22, the squad would be reduced to 15 players for next month’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup to meet the ICC’s 24 May deadline.

The selection committee has brought back Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, and Salman Ali Agha to the 18-player squad for Ireland and England

Pakistan squad for Ireland and England series

Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Irfan Khan Niazi, Iftikhar Ahmad, Usman Khan, Azam Khan (wk), Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abbas Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Hasan Ali and Salman Ali Agha.