Pakistan name their side for the T20 World Cup as Rauf misses out, but participation contingent on government approval.
Although Pakistan has announced their 15-man roster for the T20 World Cup, there is no assurance that they have decided to compete.
The PCB released a World Cup squad that was strikingly similar to the one named for the bilateral Twenty20 Internationals against Australia beginning on January 29, a day after PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi cast doubt on Pakistan’s participation following Bangladesh’s expulsion. Mohammad Wasim Jr., a fast bowler, is the only member absent from that group.
According to chief selector Aaqib Javed, Pakistan’s final decision about participation had nothing to do with the squad’s name.
“We are selectors, and our job is to pick the team. We’ve announced the team very close to the deadline. The government will decide on our participation so I can say nothing on that front. That’s what the chairman has said, too, so we’ll wait for their decision.”
There was never enough time to evaluate individual performances in the series against Australia because all countries had to confirm their squads by the ICC deadline of January 30. The Big Bash League’s top wicket-taker, Haris Rauf, will thus be absent from the T20 World Cup.
Rauf’s most recent Twenty20 International was against India in the Asia Cup final in September, where his costly spell in the last moments of a thrilling match cost Pakistan the match. When India needed 30 from 18, he let up 18 runs in the 18th over, and when India needed 10 from the final over, he gave up another 13 from four balls. Since then, he is said to have drifted far down Pakistan’s social hierarchy.
Due to the imagined circumstances in Sri Lanka, it was widely anticipated that Pakistan will remove a seamer from the 16-man roster for the World Cup match against Australia. Pakistan brings three specialist fast bowlers with them: Shaheen Afridi, Salman Mirza, and Naseem Shah. They also bolster their spin ranks. Usman Tariq, Abrar Ahmed, Muhammad Nawaz, and Shadab Khan all make the final cut.
Against February 7 in Colombo, Pakistan will take against the Netherlands in the World Cup’s opening match.