‘Bowling average 100 ki, batting average 9 ki’: Akram on Pak CT squad

NEW DELHI: Pakistan selectors on Friday named the squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy scheduled to start from February 19.
Pakistan brought back top-order batter Fakhar Zaman while Saim Ayub missed out due to injury.

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A viral video doing the rounds on the internet has former Pakistan captain and fast bowling legend Wasim Akram sharing his views on the squad and also congratulating the PCB for getting the stadiums ready for the tournament.

Akram says in the video, “Congratulations to the Pakistan Cricket Board who have prepared the stadiums in a record time. It’s a big deal.”
On Pakistan’s squad, Akram says, “I haven’t had a close look at the squad but for instance Faheem Ashraf has come in the team, I wish him all the best, a talented cricketer, but in the last 20 matches, his bowling average is 100 and batting average is 9. He has come out of the blue. Khushdil Shah has also come out of the blue. We are taking only one proper spinner. I think India has named 3-4 spinners in their squad. There has to be a reason for that. But now the team has been selected, I wish Pakistan all the best. There will be a little pressure playing at home and they are expected to reach the semifinals.”
On the return of Fakhar Zaman, who was sidelined with a knee injury since his last appearance for Pakistan at the Twenty20 World Cup in the United States and West Indies, Akram said, “Thank God regular opener Fakhar is back in the squad, he is one of the main players in white ball cricket in the world. I would like to see Mohammad Rizwan as a middle order batter and Babar Azam as an opener, because he has a great technique, if he plays full 50 overs, he will hit a hundred and the team’s batting can revolve around him.”
The eight-nation Champions Trophy will follow a hybrid model with India playing their matches in Dubai.
Mohammad Rizwan will lead the squad that includes three players from the 2017 championship-winning team – Zaman, Babar Azam, and Faheem Ashraf. All-rounder Khushdil Shah has also earned a recall.
On Pakistan’s pace attack, Akram said, “Naseem Shah is back, Shaheen Shah Afridi is there, Haris Rauf is there and ofcourse Mohammad Hasnain is there too. They had to invest in an all-rounder but Jamal is not there in the squad.”

Pakistan will begin their campaign against New Zealand in Karachi on February 19.
Pakistan will then face India in Dubai on February 23, followed by Bangladesh in Rawalpindi on February 27.
Pakistan squad: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Fakhar Zaman, Usman Khan, Saud Shakeel, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Salman Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Abrar Ahmed