A handful of senior players will be dropped from Pakistan’s T20 squad which will tour New Zealand in the next few days. However in the one-day squad seniors will still play a role as the authorities don’t want to make too many changes in one go.
Well-placed sources told Dot that Pakistan Shaheens fine product will be given chance in the T20 squad for New Zealand tour.
Sources said that Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah are more likely to be dropped from T20 squad.
Sources said that Haris Rauf is expected to be part of T20 squad.
Sources said that Naseem Shah bowled a bit good as compared to Haris and Shaheen but he lacks in fitness and it was also felt during his fielding.
Sources said that Imran Niazi, who should have been in the Champions Trophy squad, will be part of T20 squad for New Zealand tour.
Sources said that Mohammad Haris is more likely to act as wicket-keeper while Shadab Khan or Agha Salman is more likely to lead the T20 squad which will play five T20I against New Zealand starting from March 16.
Sources said that Mohammad Rizwan will as usual act as skipper of the ODI squad for New Zealand tour.
Sources said that Pakistan’s players were seen lacking the required fitness during Champion Trophy and it also affected their fielding as well as the Green-shirts dropped so many catches and did sloppy fielding especially against India.
"Look, fielding relates to fitness and if you lack in that area so there will be no sprint and sharp reflexes and the oppositions batsmen would easily get two runs,” a source, well connected with the Pakistan team, said.
It was also learnt that Pakistani players don’t play modern cricket and neither they work to adopt that mentality and create and master innovative strokes.
Sources said that players power is very strong and this can only be broken by bringing in a different type of coaching mentality.
"Look these players used to afraid of Mickey Arthur as he did not compromise on such indiscipline approach in batting or bowling,” a source said.
Sources said that Aqib Javed is more likely to continue as coach as there is no option with the PCB especially at this stage.
Sources said Kamran Ghulam was not given chance because he did not live up to expectations.
"He had been given the role to go deep but he used to play rash strokes and lose his wicket,” the source said.
About Babar Azam’s pathetic form sources said that there is little bit of technique issue with him but he is a stubborn man.
"You now Ramiz Raja as a PCB chairman had given Babar more powers and he used to select the players of his choice and also used to make the plans. If a player is above the entire team so the things don’t go in the right direction,” a source said.
It was learnt that Aqib Javed has different style of coaching.
"He is very shrewd. He works hard during training and gives plan to the team and then leaves it to the players to execute as he believes that players have the mind and knack to implement the things on the field. He is not the type of personality to shout to the players and captain to do this or that on the field. He does not like this,” a source said.
Sources said that after Pakistan lost to India in the Champions Trophy players went into shell for three days at least and were very sad.
"The situation was too sad after Pakistan lost to India. Players were sad as the entire team had performed poor and there was no blame game and everyone was sad,” the source said.
It was also learnt that the PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi returned to Islamabad in the same flight through which Pakistan team was returning from Dubai after losing to India and exited from the Champions Trophy.
Sources said that on the flight too there was complete silence.
Sources said that the discipline of the team was very good in the presence of manager Naveed Akram Cheema who is very tough person and does not compromise on the discipline.
On New Zealand tour Pakistan will play five T20I and three ODIs.
