LAHORE – Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan is likely to be overlooked for the upcoming T20I series against the West Indies, after being dropped from the recent home series against Bangladesh.
The sources said that Rizwan’s exclusion may continue due to Mohammad Haris’ impressive performance in the Bangladesh series, which has strengthened his case for selection.
They said that the selection committee is now considering giving Rohail Nazir a chance in both the West Indies series and the subsequent tour of Bangladesh.
The reports further said that Rizwan and skipper Babar Azam may only return to the national setup for the South Africa series, which is scheduled to take place in about six months. Their return to the T20 format, however, appears increasingly unlikely at this stage.
While Sarfaraz Ahmed and Sikandar Bakht have attended recent selection meetings in Islamabad and Lahore, the PCB has yet to formally announce their appointments or define their roles. The PCB’s website currently lists Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali and Hassan Cheema as official members of the selection committee.
Sources claimed that Sarfaraz and Sikandar were invited to observe the selectors’ work and highlight overlooked players. Both former cricketers reportedly played an advisory role during recent selection discussions.
Meanwhile, young pacers Naseem Shah and Aamir Jamal remain sidelined due to injuries.
Promising fast bowler Ali Raza, who played for Peshawar Zalmi in the PSL, is also unlikely to be considered due to an eye condition that affects his ability to spot the ball under floodlights.
He is currently undergoing evaluation by an eye specialist.
A PCB official stated that formal announcements regarding Sarfaraz Ahmed and Sikandar Bakht’s roles within the selection setup are expected in the coming days.
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