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By Muhammad Naeem Khan Niazi
LAHORE, Jan 25 (APP):PCB’s Director High Performance, National Selector Aqib Javed has said that speedster Haris Rauf missed out on selection from the Sri Lanka bound 15-member T20I World Cup squad due to Sri Lankan pitch-conditions and not ability or form.
During a press conference to announce the 15-member squad at the media center of the Gaddafi Stadium here on Sunday, he said Haris Rauf has rendered excellent service to Pakistan in white-ball cricket over the years, adding that nature of Sri Lankan conditions and pitches was taken into account, and these factors proved to be decisive in the selection.
To a query regarding Mohammad Rizwan’s absence from the World Cup squad, the former fast-bowler said comparison between ace-batter Babar Azam and wicket-keeper batter Mohammad Rizwan was unjustified, adding that team balance and strategy were preferred to individual comparisons in team selection.
Aqib Javed discussed in detail the thought process in the making of the Pakistan’s 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 to be held jointly in India and Sri Lanka. Under the ICC’s hybrid model, Pakistan will play all its matches in Sri Lanka.
The national selector said modern T20 cricket requires a cohesive and balanced batting unit.
On the question of preferring Babar Azam to Mohammad Rizwan, he clarified that choosing one player does not negate the other.
“Aqin said the selection committee has to look for combination which help improve the batting prowess of the team, adding that both captain and the head coach consider Babar Azam to be a very important player for the team. “Selection of one player is not rejection of the other,” he responded.
He further said the selection committee focuses on the strength of the entire team rather than individual names. “The selection committee takes into consideration which player can be more effective for the team in specific situations and conditions.”
The role of wicketkeeping was also discussed on this occasion. White-ball head coach Mike Hesson was all praise for wicket-keeper batter Usman Khan for his recent performance and all-round abilities.
Hesson said Usman adopted a calm approach in moments of pressure and his performance behind the wickets has improved significantly.
“Usman Khan has been extraordinary since his return,” said Mike Hesson. “He returned unbeaten in three difficult run chases, while his wicketkeeping in Sri Lanka was much better and of a higher standard than we expected.”
Hesson clarified that the type of wicketkeeper the team needs is a player who bats in the middle order, usually at the fifth or sixth position, which is different from the top-order role of Mohammad Rizwan. “It’s not the same comparison. Rizwan is a top-order batsman, while the role of a wicketkeeper is different, and there is no room for a top-order wicketkeeper in the current team combination.”