Shoaib Akhtar: “I would still say that Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Amir are coming in the World Cup squad”

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Legendary Pakistan pace bowler Shoaib Akhtar is hoping that left-arm seamers Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Amir somehow make it into the finalised World Cup squad.

Pakistan announced their World Cup team last week, and both Wahab and Amir failed to make the cut.

Wahab was not even among the list of 23 probables initially selected for the World Cup.

The 33-year-old enjoyed a highly successful Pakistan Super League (PSL) campaign, where he was the third-highest wicket-taker as he claimed 17 wickets in 13 games for the Peshawar Zalmi at an average of 19.88.

Amir’s form in ODIs has been abysmal since the conclusion of the Champions Trophy in June 2017 as he has taken five wickets in 14 matches at an average of 92.60.

With Pakistan being allowed to make changes to their World Cup squad without permission from the International Cricket Council (ICC) until May 23, Akhtar is hoping that both Wahab and Amir manage to get into the side.

“I would still say that Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Amir are coming in the World Cup squad,” he was quoted as saying by the Business Recorder. “These are the two missing links in the Pakistan team and their arrival would just change the game for us.

“There has been 10 years of investment in Wahab and Amir, now it is time to use them.

“If you see Wahab’s performance for the past one-and-a-half years, he has improved a lot and is right up there as a good fast bowler. He can’t get better then his current form so we should use him.”

Pakistan will kick off their World Cup campaign against the West Indies in Nottingham on May 31.

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