Pakistan cricket selectors are likely to drop pacer Mohammad Amir from the World Cup 2019 squad due to his recent poor performances. Head coach Mickey Arthur has lost faith in the 26-year-old fast-bowler and is considering other options, along with team management, for the final fast-bowling slot. It has been reported in media that some officials in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) are trying to pull a few strings in order to ensure that Amir is part of the World Cup squad. Amir has been struggling to take wickets, having bagged just five wickets in 14 one-day international (ODI) matches since the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 final in June. He went for 59 runs in his nine wicketless overs during the first ODI against Australia last week and was subsequently left out of the playing line-up for the remainder of the series. The only confirmed names in Pakistan’s fast-bowling contingent, for the mega event, are Hasan Ali and Shaheen Shah Afridi.
For the third pacer slot, there is a tight race between Junaid Khan, Usman Khan Shinwari and Mohammad Abbas, although it is likely that Shinwari will get the nod ahead of his fellow pacers. Young pacer Mohammad Hasnain has also risen in the pecking order due to his raw pace, despite claiming just two wickets in three matches during the recently concluded ODI series against Australia in UAE. The team management believes that he will be a good choice, keeping in mind English conditions. As far as Pakistan’s top-order batting is concerned, 31-year-old Abid Ali’s chances of making the cut are high if he passes the fitness test. Ali impressed with a century on debut during the fourth ODI of the series against Australia.
Left-handed batsman Shan Masood is likely to be selected as backup opener, in case Ali does not get the approval of the selectors. Interestingly, Pakistan are also thinking down the lines of opening with Haris Sohail, instead of the usual pairing of Fakhar Zaman and Imamul Haq. The reasoning behind this development is to push captain Sarfaraz Ahmed to number four position in the batting order. The PCB is also planning on sending four reserve players to England but they won’t be training along with the national side, during the World Cup. One of these reserve players will be wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan, who scored two centuries during Australia ODIs, as the selection committee does not think that he is a viable option to be solely included as a batsman. The squad for World Cup 2019 will be announced on April 18 in Lahore.