Pak vs Zim: Mohd. Hafeez, Haider Ali & Abdullah Shafiq Omitted For The First ODI

0
296
Peshawar Zalmi Karachi Kings Lahore Qalandars, COVID-19 PSL 5, Misbah-ul-Haq Sharjeel Khan Haider Ali, Haider Ali Haris Rauf, PSL 6, #PSL 6, #LQvMS PZvQG, #KKvPZ & #QGvMS, #MSvPZ #PSL6FINAL, PSL 2023
Image Source: www.logicalbaat.com

Misbah-ul-Haq has omitted Mohd. Hafeez, Haider Ali and Abdullah Shafiq from the 15 man squad for the first ODI (One Day International) against Zimbabwe that is scheduled to be played in Rawalpindi tomorrow and hence, here is a look at the development.

Read: Pakistan’s First ODI Against Zimbabwe: A Look At The Possible Playing Eleven

Mohd. Hafeez, Haider Ali & Abdullah Shafiq Dropped

Pakistan’s Likely Playing 11 Against Zimbabwe Tomorrow, 3 Breaking News From Pakistan Cricket, Pakistani Cricketers Could Still Be Dropped From The World Cup Squad, Pakistan Completes Warm-up Matches On Their Tour To England, Pakistan’s T20 Loss Against England, Pakistan Plays Bangladesh Today, Appointment Of Pakistan Captain, Haider Ali Abdullah Shafiq
Image Source: Sky Sports

Mohd. Hafeez hasn’t played for Pakistan in the ODIs ever since the world cup after the selectors decided to give an opportunity to the younger players. Hence, the decision to drop the veteran batsman comes down as no surprise.

Misbah-ul-Haq Shoaib Malik, Haider Ali Abdullah Shafiq
Image Source: PCB/Cricket Pakistan

Given Misbah’s defensive mind-set, the decision to drop Haider Ali and Abdullah Shafiq then too doesn’t come down as a surprise. It is understood that the green shirts are playing an ODI after a pretty long period of time and therefore, the think-tank it seems wants to stick with some of the more experienced batsmen like Haris Sohail, Abid Ali and Iftikhar Ahmed.

Read: Shadab Khan Likely To Miss The First ODI Against Zimbabwe

Who Else Couldn’t Make It To The 15 Man Squad?

Sarfraz Hints At What Playing Eleven He Has In Mind For The English Series, Why Pakistan's Think Tank Must Reconsider The Playing Eleven, Pakistan’s T20 Loss Against England, PCB decides To Sack Sarfraz Ahmed, Shadab Khan Should Not Be Pakistan’s Captain, Shadab Khan Should Not Be Pakistan’s Captain, Pakistan’s T20 Against Cricket Australia XI, Pakistan’s T20 in Canberra, Pakistan’s First T20 Against Bangladesh, Misbah-ul-Haq Shadab Khan Fawad Alam, Shadab Khan Vice Captain
Image Source: Reuters

Vice-captain Shadab Khan is nursing an injury and thus, wasn’t included for the opening encounter. Usman Qadir’s inclusion in the 15 man squad and omission of Zafar Gohar then means that Usman is likely to make his international debut tomorrow.

Mohammad Hafeez Mohammad Rizwan
Image Source: www.espncricinfo.com

Given Mohd. Rizwan’s form, dropping Rohail Nazir was an obvious decision. However, it is slightly surprising that the selectors have decided to select Musa Khan ahead of Mohd. Hasnain. Nevertheless, Haris Rauf should still be the favorite to play alongside Shaheen Afridi and Wahab Riaz as Pakistan’s third seamer against Zimbabwe.

Read: Inzamam-ul-Haq Criticizes PCB’s Tactics Before The Appointment Of Pakistan’s Test Captain

So, What Is Exactly Is The Squad?

Reasons Why Pakistan Hasn’t Found Its Best ODI Combination, Remaining Matches Of PSL 5, PCB Younis Khan Zimbabwe, Shoaib Malik Babar Azam, Pakistan's First ODI Against Zimbabwe
Image Source: enews.hamariweb.com

The following players then have been selected for the first ODI against Zimbabwe.

Imam-ul-Haq, Abid Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam (c), Haris Sohail, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Faheem Ashraf, Imad Wasim, Usman Qadir, Wahab Riaz, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Musa Khan.