Pakistan Squad For Asia Cup 2010

Pakistan selectors announced 15-man Pakistan squad for the upcoming Asia Cup Cricket 2010 which begins on 15 June in Sri Lanka. Selectors recalled veteran pacer Shoaib Akhtar and former captian Shoaib Malik, whose one year ban has recently been revoked by PCB following a trail.

Shahid Afridi, who recently captained Pakistan in Twenty20 World Cup 2010, has been appointed captain for all three formats for the Asia Cup andPakistan’s England tour. Opener Salman Butt has been appointed Afridi’s deputy for the upcoming two tours.

Speculations were rife in the media claiming Butt to become Pakistan’s new captain for the Test and ODI formats. However, the selectors changed their decision after Afridi had come out of his retirement in test cricket.

Chief selector Mohsin Khan has said that the selection process involved selectors as well as the coach Waqar Younis and captain Shahid Afridi. Afridi recently called for more young players in the squad and the inclusion of two new faces in the squad is reflective of his wish.

Two new players called up for the Asia Cup Cricket 2010 are Umar Amin and Asad Shafiq. Both of them impressed the selectors with their domestic performance in the recent years.

Pakistani Team For Asia Cup

Umar Amin has a very good domestic record with an average of 42.00 in the first class cricket. Asad Shafiq, at 24, has 8 centuries in his 35-match first class career and has maintained an average of over 43. Asad can also keep wickets. So, he could be a back up for Kamran Akmal as far as wicket keeping is concerned.

There are many who were surprised by the selection of Shoaib Malik who few months back was banned by PCB for a year on disciplinary ground. His strained relation with Captain Shahid Afridi is no more a secret and many think it could have a negative impact in Pakistan’s on-field performance.

Two former Pakistan captains: Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf are not available for the upcoming tours. Both of them were banned for an indefinite time by PCB for breaching team discipline. Yousuf then suddenly announced his retirement from international cricket.

Pakistan cricket has suffered a lot over the last few years due to the country’s security condition and indiscipline among the players. They were stripped out of hosting rights of ICC World Cup Cricket 2011 following the bomb attack on Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore in March 2009.

Pakistan cricket is going through a very tough phase. They were whitewashed in Australia recently, and then failed to retain their Twenty20 World Cup title. Afridi’s appointment as captain came as a shock to many who are doubtful about Afridi’s ability as a test cricketer. He has been in international cricket since 1996, but could earn only 26 caps in test cricket against his 293 appearances in ODI format. However, Pakistani fans are expecting that Pakistan team would perform better under his captaincy.

Another young batsman in the squad is Shahzaib Hasan who represented Pakistan in their triumph in Twenty20 World Cup 2009. However, the 20-year-old, who can also keep wicket, has not yet played any ODI or test match.

Shoaib Akhtar earned the recall based on his impressive recent form in the Pentangular tournament. Both Akhtar and Malik had to go through fitness tests before getting the final nod from the selectors.

Besides Shoaib Akhtar, Pakistan squad includes four other pacers: Mohammad Aamer, Mohammad Asif, Abdur Rehman and Abdul Razzaq. Spin attack includes Saeed Ajmal, Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik.

Shahid Afridi and Abdul Razzaq, the two specialist all rounders, could be very effective for Pakistan in Asia Cup. Sri Lankan condition would help Afridi and Ajmal as wickets may offer assistance to the spinners.

Batting line up is a blend of experienced as well as young batsmen. Imran Farhat, Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Afridi and Abdul Razzaq are experienced members in their batting line up, while Umar Amin, Asad Shafiq and Shahzaib Hasan are young but talented batsmen who may have to wait for a while to get into the first eleven.

Umar Akmal, on the other hand, may not be that much experienced, but has already cemented his place in the first eleven within a very short time.