Abdul Razzaq: “We already have Shadab and we don’t want to have similar type of bowlers. That is why we have selected Abrar Ahmed over Usama Mir. So now we have Shadab and a mystery spinner in Abrar”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan selector Abdul Razzaq has admitted that Usama Mir was not considered for selection due to the fact that he is too similar to Shadab Khan, who remains the first-choice spinner.
Mir was unstoppable during the 2024 Pakistan Super League (PSL), finishing as the highest wicket-taker with 24 victims in 12 matches for the Multan Sultans at an average of 15.87 and an economy rate of 8.13.
The 28-year-old from Sialkot did go on to feature in Pakistan’s five-match T20I series against New Zealand, where he took three wickets in two games at an average of 21.33 and an economy rate of eight.
However, he was left out of the squad for the T20I series against Ireland and England since the selectors felt Abrar Ahmed would be a better choice as he is a mystery spinner.
“We already have Shadab and we don’t want to have similar type of bowlers. That is why we have selected Abrar Ahmed over Usama Mir. So now we have Shadab and a mystery spinner in Abrar,” Razzaq was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
The four-match T20I series between England and Pakistan will be played from May 22 to 30.
Afterwards, the men in green will be in action in the 2024 T20 World Cup, which will take place in the West Indies and United States of America from June 1 to 29.
Pakistan’s first T20 World Cup game will be against the United States of America in Dallas on June 6.
Pakistan Squad for Ireland and England T20I Series: Babar Azam (capt), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan
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