Mohammad Amir’s World Cup selection was thrown into uncertainty after captain Sarfraz Ahmed expressed concerns over the left-arm pacer’s inability to take wickets in One-day Internationals.
Mohammad Amir has been poor since the Champions Trophy final in 2017
Karachi:
He has hit an average of around 85 runs per wicket and his pace and strike rate has gone down in Test matches too. The selectors are due to announce the Pakistan WC squad on April 18 and sources say that they are likely to announce it on April 23.
“Pakistan is due to play a five-match ODI series against England besides some matches against English counties in May. Since every country has to give final shape to its 15-member squad by April 23, the selectors might want to have a final look at Amir before deciding on whether he will play in the mega event or not,” said a source. Sarfraz agreed there had not only been a drastic cut in the strike rate for Amir, but added his pace had also come down. “I can’t say whether he (Amir) will be in the WC squad or not but our minds are clear about our plans. When the squad is announced, everyone will know,” added the Pakistan skipper. The source confirmed that Amir’s selection is dicey since even the head coach Mickey Arthur and bowling coach Azhar Mahmood seem to have lost faith in him.
“Arthur has backed Amir all through his time but with more pace options available now, he is having second thoughts about reposing faith in Amir,” the source claimed. Amir, who has played 36 Tests, 50 ODIs and 43 T20 Internationals, was publicly criticised by Sarfaraz along with the other bowlers during a Test series in South Africa in January.
The criticism stung Amir, who had walked out of a press conference when asked about his captain’s thoughts on his bowling and performances. The pacer was also dropped after just one match in the recent five-match ODI series against Australia in UAE.
“When your main strike bowler is not taking wickets regularly, obviously it causes concern to the captain,” said Sarfraz. Since the Champions Trophy final in 2017 when he produced a match-winning spell of three for 16, Amir has not taken more than a wicket in 14 ODIs and has also gone wicketless in nine of those matches.
He has hit an average of around 85 runs per wicket and his pace and strike rate has gone down in Test matches too. The selectors are due to announce the Pakistan WC squad on April 18 and sources say that they are likely to announce it on April 23.
“Pakistan is due to play a five-match ODI series against England besides some matches against English counties in May. Since every country has to give final shape to its 15-member squad by April 23, the selectors might want to have a final look at Amir before deciding on whether he will play in the mega event or not,” said a source. Sarfraz agreed there had not only been a drastic cut in the strike rate for Amir, but added his pace had also come down. “I can’t say whether he (Amir) will be in the WC squad or not but our minds are clear about our plans. When the squad is announced, everyone will know,” added the Pakistan skipper. The source confirmed that Amir’s selection is dicey since even the head coach Mickey Arthur and bowling coach Azhar Mahmood seem to have lost faith in him.
“Arthur has backed Amir all through his time but with more pace options available now, he is having second thoughts about reposing faith in Amir,” the source claimed. Amir, who has played 36 Tests, 50 ODIs and 43 T20 Internationals, was publicly criticised by Sarfaraz along with the other bowlers during a Test series in South Africa in January.
The criticism stung Amir, who had walked out of a press conference when asked about his captain’s thoughts on his bowling and performances. The pacer was also dropped after just one match in the recent five-match ODI series against Australia in UAE.