Rashid Latif, the former Pakistan captain said that since it was the selectors’ job to pick the 15-member team, they should ethically resign if changes have to be made to it after the formation of the squad.
Pakistan’s selectors should resign if any changes have to be made to the 15-member squad they have chosen for the forthcoming T20 World Cup. Pakistan’s selectors, led by former batsman Muhammad Wasim, came under criticism for the squad they choose with Misbah-ul-Haq and Waqar Younis resigning from their positions in the coaching staff shortly after the announcement.
Rashid Latif: Chief Selector Must Resign Along with Other Selectors If Changes Are Made To T20 World Cup Squad
ICC T20 World Cup 2021 will start from 17th October immediately after the conclusion of IPL’s UAE leg. The marquee tournament is scheduled to begin on 17 October and the summit clash will take place on 14 November. Pakistan will start their ICC T20I World Cup 2021 campaign against arch-rivals India in Dubai on 24 October. They will then face New Zealand in Sharjah on 26 October before returning to Dubai to take on Afghanistan.
“Now if they go ahead and make changes in the main 15-member squad then the chief selector must ethically resign and so should the other selectors,” Rashid Latif said.
“Because they are responsible for selecting the squad and if changes are made it means they failed to do their jobs properly the first time around,” Rashid Latif said.
Pakistan named a 15-member squad and 3 stand-by players for their campaign in the UAE on Monday. Senior cricketers Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shoaib Malik, and Wahab Riaz did not find a place while the likes of fresh faces Azam Khan, Asif Ali, and Khushdil Shah made it to the squad.
There are a few surprises in the squad as veteran players like Shoaib Malik and Sarfaraz Ahmed, who captained Pakistan in 2007 and 2016 T20 WCs respectively, did not get a chance in the squad. Aggressive opener Fakhar Zaman and leg-spinner Usman Qadir were not picked in the 15-man squad but the two players along with Shahnawaz Dahani were picked as reserves.
Rashid Latif Wouldn’t Write Pakistan Off But India, England And West Indies Are Formidable Sides In T20I WC
Rashid Latif said that Pakistan may surprise people in the World Cup. The 2009 champions face arch-rivals India in their first match of the tournament on October 24. He, however, said that India and England appear to be the most balanced teams while defending champions West Indies are always a challenge.
“India and England appear to be the most balanced sides in the tournament while West Indies always remain a dangerous side but I wouldn’t write Pakistan off as if they click they could gain momentum and surprise many people,” Rashid Latif said.
All the teams have time until October 10 to finalize their squad, which could mean certain inclusions and exclusions from the Pakistan team, who have key players including Fakhar Zaman, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Wahab Riaz, and Shoaib Malik missing out from the 15-member squad.
Pakistan Squad: Babar Azam (C), Shadab Khan, Asif Ali, Azam Khan, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Imad Wasim,Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sohaib Maqsood, Traveling reserves – Fakhar Zaman , Shahnawaz Dahani and Usman Qadir