Pak team to England not picked on merit: Mohammad Wasim

ISLAMABAD - Former Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Wasim has criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board and the team management, saying that the current national team on England tour has not been picked on merit.

“Out of the current playing side, Azhar Ali scored two centuries and between the rest of the batsmen currently touring England, there is only one solitary century. Why is it that these players have been selected in the test team when players who have scored more have been ignored?” Pakpassion quoted Wasim, as saying.

“Why is it that a bowler who picked up 14 wickets in the last domestic cricket season is in the test squad while there are many bowlers who got over 50 wickets sitting back home in Pakistan?” he added.

The 33-year-old also pointed out that the team with ‘inexperienced batsmen’ could not compete against an English team with a top order, which has scored 151 first class hundreds.

“Pakistan’s top order in comparison has scored only 67 first class hundreds and that too mainly due to the two openers. It’s a complete mismatch,” Wasim said.
“To include one youngster in a team of experienced players works, but one experienced player within a young team. I am not too sure,” he added.

Wasim also reckons that the decision to recall veteran middle-order batsman Mohammad Yousuf will help the team.

“It is a step forward and somewhat towards rectifying the mistake they made when they dropped all the experienced players from the team,” he said.

Pakistan is currently trailing 0-2 in the four-match Test series against England. (ANI)