Pakistan’s cricket selectors have made the surprising decision to leave pace spearhead Haris Rauf out of the 15-man squad for the upcoming ICC Men”s T20 World Cup, opting instead for a spin-heavy contingent to tackle the anticipated conditions in Sri Lanka.
According to a report by ICC today, the 2009 champions, who announced their squad on Sunday, have prioritised a strong spin attack, presumably due to Rauf”s tendency to be expensive with the ball despite his wicket-taking capabilities. This tactical shift is seen as a significant gamble ahead of the tournament.
The selection panel has placed its trust in four specialist spinners: Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Abrar Ahmed, and Usman Tariq. They will form the core of the bowling attack for the competition, which commences on February 7.
In Rauf”s absence, the pace department will be led by left-armer Shaheen Shah Afridi, with support from fellow fast bowlers Salman Mirza and Naseem Shah.
On the batting front, former skipper Babar Azam has been retained in the group despite a recent lack of runs, including a modest performance in Australia”s Big Bash competition. Team management is backing the experienced batsman to rediscover his form during the T20I series against Australia preceding the main event.
The squad features a range of aggressive top-order batsmen to contend with the high scores expected at the tournament. Right-hander Sahibzada Farhan is poised to open, while Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman are also powerful options available to the team.
The side, captained by Salman Agha, is described as a blend of youth and experience as Pakistan pursues its second T20 World Cup title.
Pakistan Squad: Salman Agha (c), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay, Mohammad Nawaz, Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan, Usman Tariq.