Sarfraz Ahmed: “Wahab and Amir showed the intensity and the determination to take wickets, the main reason why they were included in the World Cup squad in the first place”

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed firmly believes that left-arm seamers Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz have earned their spots in the World Cup squad.

Prior to the World Cup, Amir had only taken five wickets in 15 ODIs at an average of 92.60.

In fact, he initially failed to make the cut for the World Cup squad.

However, after he, Wahab and big-hitting batsman Asif Ali were included in the World Cup team at the expense of left-arm pace bowler Junaid Khan, opener Abid Ali and all-rounder Faheem Ashraf, Amir has repaid the faith invested in him as he currently sits atop the World Cup wicket-takers list with five wickets in two games at an average of 18.60.

Wahab was initially not included in the list of 23 probables for the World Cup, but was the third-highest wicket-taker in this year’s Pakistan Super League (PSL) with 17 wickets in 13 games for the Peshawar Zalmi at an average of 19.88.

But, in Pakistan’s two World Cup games against the West Indies and England, he has claimed three wickets at an average of 40.66.

All three of Wahab’s wickets came in Pakistan’s incredible 14-run win over England in Nottingham on Monday.

“Wahab and Amir showed the intensity and the determination to take wickets, the main reason why they were included in the World Cup squad in the first place,” Sarfraz wrote in his blog on the Pakistan Cricket Board’s website after his side’s win over England. “Hasan Ali was equally impressive although his final figures don’t do justice to how well he bowled. Shadab, as always, was a beauty.”

Pakistan’s next World Cup match will be against Sri Lanka in Bristol on Friday.

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