Inzamam-ul-Haq: Mohammad Amir “might not be an automatic selection at this stage”

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Pakistan chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq has revealed that left-arm pace bowler Mohammad Amir “might not be an automatic selection at this stage”.

Amir has struggled to take wickets as of late, especially in ODIs, where he has picked up five wickets in 13 matches at an average of 80.80 since January 1, 2018.

Amir was Pakistan’s highest wicket-taker in the recent three-Test series against South Africa as he took 12 wickets at an average of 23.58.

As for the five-match ODI series that followed, the 26-year-old claimed two wickets in three matches at an average of 51.

He also featured in one of the three Twenty20 Internationals both teams played and took three wickets at an average of nine.

“Amir might not be an automatic selection at this stage but he is a very good bowler and there is no doubt it,” Inzamam was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo. “Unfortunately, he is not looking in his best form. He has enough time for the World Cup, he will be back in the rhythm.

“If a senior bowler like him looks out of form, off-colour, it’s a worry for us, but we still have time for Amir. We still have ten one-dayers and two-three months. Amir can make a comeback. We will give him full chance to make a comeback. He is a big-occasion bowler and we need to have a bowler like him in our armoury.”