Usman Khan Shinwari: “Both Junaid and Abbas conceded 80 plus runs in their 10 overs each. I took 4/47 but at the end I was not selected. That is one of the saddest moments of my career”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan left-arm pace bowler Usman Khan Shinwari admitted being overlooked for the 2019 World Cup was one of the “saddest moments of my career”, especially since he did better than fellow fast bowlers Junaid Khan and Mohammad Abbas.
Shinwari noted that he had to battle against Junaid and Abbas for the last spot in the squad, but it ultimately went to Junaid.
He pointed out that the selectors judged their performances in an ODI against Australia and even though he finished with four wickets, he ended up being ignored.
“Before the 2019 World Cup in a series against Australia, me, Junaid Khan and Mohammad Abbas were told that 14 out of 15 players for the World Cup squad are finalised, one of you three will be selected on the basis of the next game. Both Junaid and Abbas conceded 80 plus runs in their 10 overs each. I took 4/47 but at the end I was not selected. That is one of the saddest moments of my career,” the 30-year-old was quoted as saying by PakPassion on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The Pakistan team recently toured Australia for a limited overs series and won the ODIs 2-1 before being crushed 3-0 in the T20Is.
The men in green then travelled to Zimbabwe and claimed a 2-1 win in both the ODI and T20I series.
As for their ongoing tour of South Africa, Pakistan lost the T20I series 2-0 before bouncing back to whitewash the Proteas 3-0.
Pakistan and South Africa are now playing a two-Test series, which started on December 26 in Centurion.
Pakistan Squad for South Africa T20I Series: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Jahandad Khan, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wicketkeeper)
Pakistan Squad for South Africa ODI Series: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wicketkeeper)
Pakistan Squad for South Africa Test Series: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Haseebullah Khan (wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha