Karachi: The Pakistan team’s tour selection committee has decided to go in with a non-regular opener either Younis Khan or Sohaib Maqsood in their opening World Cup match against India at Adelaide on Sunday.
According to reports filtering in from Adelaide the tour selectors have decided to not play Nasir Jamshed against India and instead try out either Younis or Maqsood to open with Ahmed Shehzad.
“They have also decided to rest wicketkeeper, Sarfaraz Ahmed in a bid to have four specialist bowlers and to strengthen the batting,” one well-informed source said.
He said that the decision to sideline Nasir was taken as the team management felt they would need the experience of Younis in the high-octane match, while Maqsood was in great form and finisher and shoudn’t be dropped.
The interesting part is that the tour selectors are still to decide whether to play the one genuine quick bowler, Sohail Khan or paceman, Ehsan Adil in the match.
“What is decided is that Wahab Riaz, Muhammad Irfan and leg spinner, Yasir Shah will play and the votes appear to favor Ehsan instead of Sohail,” the source said.
Sunday’s match has generated great hype, excitement and expectations among Pakistan cricket fans, who feel that their team has a realistic chance of beating India in a World Cup match for the first time in six outings.
The source said the batting order will be Ahmed Shehzad, Younis Khan, Haris Sohail, Misbah-ul-Haq, Umar Akmal, Sohaib Maqsood, Shahid Afridi, Yasir Shah, Wahab Riaz, Muhammad Irfan and Ehsan Adil or Sohail Khan.
Meanwhile, Pakistan spinners, including Saeed Ajmal and Abdul Qadir, believe spin will play an influential role in the World Cup despite the general belief that since the tournament is being held in New Zealand and Australia it will be dominated by paceman.
“No doubt fast and medium pace bowlers will be important on the pitches found there but any team which undermines the role of spinners will suffer in the long run,” champion off-spinner, Saeed Ajmal cautioned. (PTI)
