ISLAMABAD: Pakistan cricket team chief selector Inzamamul Haq believes Umar Gul’s fitness and experience helped him earn a position in the 15-man ODI squad against Ireland and England. “It is my belief that our fast-bowling attack needs the backing of some solid experience,” said Inzamam on Friday. “There is no substitute for game experience and in that regard Gul’s inclusion makes a lot of sense. Apart from his experience of bowling in tight situations against top quality opposition teams and a good track record, I was also encouraged by the thought of the selectors who felt that Gul was extremely fit which is a key requirement for the ODI format,” he added. The inclusion of 22-year-old fast-bowler Hasan Ali was also welcomed by the people who want youngsters to be given a go in the main team and Inzamam thinks he is a great prospect for the future of Pakistan cricket.
“We have included some young players like Hasan Ali to build the team for the future, and in that regard I would like to say that he is a great prospect,” he said. “His performance for Pakistan A in the recently concluded tour of England, where he took 20 wickets, was outstanding and so we have rewarded him with a place in the ODI squad.” Conversely, left-arm pacer Junaid Khan was not happy with his exclusion from the ODI squad for the two-match series against Ireland and five-ODI series against England. He took to social media after the team was announced to ask the reason for his omission and stated that he had ignored lucrative county contracts just to represent his country. Inzamam, however, showed maturity and said that Junaid should learn the art of patience from Gul. “Junaid should not feel disheartened and continue the hard work that he has been doing so far,” said the former Test captain. “That is the only yardstick for the selection of any player. If he needs an example of this idea put to practice, then he should look no further than Gul who will now be making a return to the ODI squad after an absence of almost a year.”