ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) selectors have finally realised the importance of experienced all-rounder Abdul Razzaq and given nod to him in the Twenty20 squad for the South Africa T20 series.
It was quite unfortunate that a player of Razzaq's caliber, who was tailor-made for shorter versions of the game, was not considered just because of personal grudges. It was not only the loss of Razzaq's talent, but in fact it cost Pakistan cricket team dearly in many ODIs and T20 internationals.
Razzaq is an automatic choice for selection in any top side of the world, but the criterion is completely different when it comes to dealing with players in Pakistan. There is no place and room for merit and the only thing that matters for selection in the national squad is personal connections and influence on high ups of the board and such things deprive many deserving players of their due rights and also cost the team dearly.
Just to settle personal score with Razzaq, T20 captain M Hafeez ruined his career. Pakistan cricket team's history is full of such incidents as star players many times used their influence to keep deserving players out. Same is the case with Razzaq as he is a class act and can turn the entire situation of the match single-handedly, just like he did in the past against the same opponents and at the same neutral venue.
It is a very good and positive move by the PCB selectors to recall one of the world’s finest all-rounders in the T20 squad and they should consider him in other formats of the game as well.
A very surprise inclusion in the squad announced for the T20 internationals is the name of Nasir Jamshed, who despite a complete failure in the ODIs so far, still managed to book a place in the T20 squad. The inclusion of Nasir's name in the shortest version of the game is grave injustice with players who are performing exceptionally in the domestic circuit but they were totally ignored and instead Nasir was given another charm chance.
Another surprise name in the squad is Umer Amin, who has disappointed and wasted his talent in the two ODIs so far. He is a good player and his technique is also sound, but he failed to live up to reputation.
Shoaib Malik, despite not a single notable performance in the domestic circuit, has once again managed to storm his way into the national team. His political connections once again helped him to make another comeback in the T20 squad. He is arguably one of the most blessed players of the PCB, who despite a number of chances failed to give any notable contributions but he is still getting chance time and again depriving deserving players of their due rights.
After a very long time, Pakistani squad looked quite balanced and capable of posing real threat to mighty South Africans. If the green shirts play according to their potentials, they will top favourite to win the series. But it depends on how the team will be selected and how the players will perform against their opponents.
It was also noticed after a long gap that the selected T20 squad include some genuine all-rounders. Pakistan team was in dire need of all-rounders in the past, therefore, they were struggling against the minnows but now they will play a significant role in the team’s overall performance and help in scoring victories against Proteas.