****ICC CRICKET WORLD CUP 2019 - ENGLAND CHAMPIONS***

[Kool_SRG]

Wahab, Amir, Asif Ali included in Pakistan World Cup squad

 

Pakistan have not quite hit the panic button yet, but in adding Wahab Riaz to their World Cup squad two years after his last ODI and a year after Mickey Arthur seemingly signalled the end of the pacer's career, they have indicated growing alarm at the steep decline in their bowling performances.

On Monday, chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq announced Wahab's surprise return, as well as the slightly less surprising additions of Mohammad Amir and Asif Ali, to Pakistan's 15-man squad for the World Cup. Junaid Khan, Faheem Ashraf and Abid Ali are the players culled from the provisional squadannounced a month ago.

Why Wahab?

Wahab's last ODI appearance came as far back as on June 4, 2017, in the group stage game against India in the Champions Trophy, when Pakistan suffered a heavy defeat. He wasn't a part of the playing XI for Pakistan in their run to the trophy following that reversal.

He has played 17 List A games since then, taking 27 wickets at an average of 28.40 with an economy rate of 5.18. Ten of those wickets have come in five games this year, at an average of 20.70 and economy of 4.60, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's title run in the Pakistan Cup 50-over tournament.

More than those numbers, it seems to have been Wahab's ability to generate reverse swing - and Pakistan's poor form with the ball in England - that has swayed the selectors' opinion.

"Whatever you plan, you keep the room to review it as well," Inzamam said in Lahore. "I don't compromise on the team's requirements. If he (Wahab) wasn't originally picked in the squad, it didn't mean that he had been discarded forever.

"I understand he wasn't close to the 23 probables named for the World Cup, but no one is in the squad without a reason. The rationale behind bringing him back is his ability to reverse swing the ball. Nobody expected the pitches in the UK to be flat even in the early season there (during the recent ODI series against England). So we have realised that and reviewed our selection.

"We need to have bowlers who are good with the old ball and can defy the conditions and also have experience under their belt. Wahab has played in Tests recently and he was dropped on the basis of his form. But he did well in domestic cricket," explained Inzamam. "But it was the requirement of the team and the conditions there in England, which have changed drastically.

"Bringing him in doesn't reflect any panic, but it's a decision purely based on the requirement."

The comeback of Amir

Amir didn't - or couldn't - take part in any of the ODIs against England. He missed four of the five games with chickenpox but such has been the sense of worry following Pakistan's bowling in the series, it was almost certain that Amir's experience would see him return.

Pakistan conceded 373 for 3, 359 for 4 (in 44.5 overs), 341 for 7 (in 49.3 overs), and 351 for 9 across the four completed games. Mickey Arthur, the coach, pointed to the fielding lapses as the team's biggest concern after the series, but added that "our bowling has been average at best."

That has come on the back of a longer-term slip in bowling form, paralleling Amir's own dip since the Champions Trophy two years ago. In his last ten ODI appearances, Amir has picked up just two wickets at an unflattering average of 148.50, though he has usually kept things tight. In 14 ODIs since the final of the Champions Trophy, his economy rate has been an excellent 4.58, though if games against Zimbabwe and Hong Kong are taken out, it goes up to 5.28.

"If you analyse the series, if the Pakistan bowlers were punished, so were the England bowlers," Inzamam said. "So whatever the conditions, we need experienced bowlers, and Amir is very much ahead of every bowler we have. He was originally never discarded either, but we kept him with the team for the England series."

On the two pacers who were left out, Inzamam said, "Junaid and Faheem are dropped but that doesn't mean they are not good. But we think players like Amir and Wahab are more suitable for these conditions, which is why we have preferred them."

Pakistan did utilise the 30 days the teams had been given - April 23 to May 23 - to make changes. They had named a 17-man squad for the England series and also carried Mohammad Hafeez while he was still recovering from injury. Hafeez missed the initial games but played the last two ODIs, scoring 59 in the first of them.

Pakistan are, however, missing a reserve wicketkeeper behind captain Sarfaraz Ahmed, but Inzamam confirmed that Mohammad Rizwan would stay on in England and fill in in case of an injury.

"I see my team at No. 1," Inzamam said. "I am sure all teams are working hard for the World Cup, but I think Pakistan have the capability to win the World Cup."

[Kool_SRG]

Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard named among West Indies' World Cup reserves

West Indies have named allrounders Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo in their 10-man list of reserve players for the upcoming World Cup.

Bravo, who "officially retired" from international cricket in October last year, hasn't played for West Indies in any format since September 2016, and hasn't played an ODI since October 2014. Pollard last played an ODI in October 2016. Both players were involved in the IPL final on May 12, with Pollard helping Mumbai Indians clinch a record fourth title.

The official 15-member World Cup squad is undergoing a training camp in Southampton from May 19 to 23. Two reserve players will also be part of the camp. Top-order batsman Sunil Ambris, who impressed during the recent ODI tri-series in Ireland, will cover for Evin Lewis, who has just recovered from a viral illness, and left-arm seamer Raymon Reifer will help the bowling unit manage its workload.

The camp also includes an additional warm-up fixture against Australia, on May 22, at the Rose Bowl.

The other six reserves are batsmen John Campbell and Jonathan Carter, spin-bowling allrounders Roston Chase and Khary Pierre, wicketkeeper-batsman Shane Dowrich, and seam-bowling allrounder Keemo Paul.

CWI CEO Johnny Grave said the training camp and extra warm-up game had been scheduled with a view to helping the squad acclimatise better to conditions in England, especially the seven members of the squad who were part of the IPL and as a result missed the Ireland tri-series.

"We are very grateful to Hampshire CCC for agreeing to host us at the Ageas Bowl and to Cricket Australia for agreeing the additional warm-up game," Grave said. "Due to the commitments and promises made, to both our players and the BCCI, this is the first time that our entire World Cup squad can get together since the IPL finished. We are confident that these additional five days of training and the extra warm-up game will mean that our players will be ready to perform at their best in our opening match against Pakistan on the 31st May."

Speaking about the reserves, Robert Haynes, the interim chairman of selectors, said: "The choice of players in the reserve list is to really cover our bases and ensure we have a good balance in the pool of players that can be selected if replacements are required. We think the skill-set in this pool is strong, with a good blend of experience and upcoming young players who can be ready to contribute if and when required."

West Indies begin their World Cup campaign on May 31, when they face Pakistan at Trent Bridge.

West Indies World Cup squad: Jason Holder (capt), Chris Gayle, Kemar Roach, Darren Bravo, Andre Russell, Shai Hope (wk), Sheldon Cottrell, Evin Lewis, Shannon Gabriel, Carlos Brathwaite, Ashley Nurse, Shimron Hetmyer, Fabian Allen, Oshane Thomas, Nicholas Pooran

Reserve players: Sunil Ambris, Dwayne Bravo, John Campbell, Jonathan Carter, Roston Chase, Shane Dowrich, Keemo Paul, Khary Pierre, Raymon Reifer, Kieron Pollard

 

 

@dalapathi       

[Rshiva]

57 minutes ago, Kool_SRG said:

Wahab, Amir, Asif Ali included in Pakistan World Cup squad

 

Pakistan have not quite hit the panic button yet, but in adding Wahab Riaz to their World Cup squad two years after his last ODI and a year after Mickey Arthur seemingly signalled the end of the pacer's career, they have indicated growing alarm at the steep decline in their bowling performances.

On Monday, chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq announced Wahab's surprise return, as well as the slightly less surprising additions of Mohammad Amir and Asif Ali, to Pakistan's 15-man squad for the World Cup. Junaid Khan, Faheem Ashraf and Abid Ali are the players culled from the provisional squadannounced a month ago.

Why Wahab?

Wahab's last ODI appearance came as far back as on June 4, 2017, in the group stage game against India in the Champions Trophy, when Pakistan suffered a heavy defeat. He wasn't a part of the playing XI for Pakistan in their run to the trophy following that reversal.

He has played 17 List A games since then, taking 27 wickets at an average of 28.40 with an economy rate of 5.18. Ten of those wickets have come in five games this year, at an average of 20.70 and economy of 4.60, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's title run in the Pakistan Cup 50-over tournament.

More than those numbers, it seems to have been Wahab's ability to generate reverse swing - and Pakistan's poor form with the ball in England - that has swayed the selectors' opinion.

"Whatever you plan, you keep the room to review it as well," Inzamam said in Lahore. "I don't compromise on the team's requirements. If he (Wahab) wasn't originally picked in the squad, it didn't mean that he had been discarded forever.

"I understand he wasn't close to the 23 probables named for the World Cup, but no one is in the squad without a reason. The rationale behind bringing him back is his ability to reverse swing the ball. Nobody expected the pitches in the UK to be flat even in the early season there (during the recent ODI series against England). So we have realised that and reviewed our selection.

"We need to have bowlers who are good with the old ball and can defy the conditions and also have experience under their belt. Wahab has played in Tests recently and he was dropped on the basis of his form. But he did well in domestic cricket," explained Inzamam. "But it was the requirement of the team and the conditions there in England, which have changed drastically.

"Bringing him in doesn't reflect any panic, but it's a decision purely based on the requirement."

The comeback of Amir

Amir didn't - or couldn't - take part in any of the ODIs against England. He missed four of the five games with chickenpox but such has been the sense of worry following Pakistan's bowling in the series, it was almost certain that Amir's experience would see him return.

Pakistan conceded 373 for 3, 359 for 4 (in 44.5 overs), 341 for 7 (in 49.3 overs), and 351 for 9 across the four completed games. Mickey Arthur, the coach, pointed to the fielding lapses as the team's biggest concern after the series, but added that "our bowling has been average at best."

That has come on the back of a longer-term slip in bowling form, paralleling Amir's own dip since the Champions Trophy two years ago. In his last ten ODI appearances, Amir has picked up just two wickets at an unflattering average of 148.50, though he has usually kept things tight. In 14 ODIs since the final of the Champions Trophy, his economy rate has been an excellent 4.58, though if games against Zimbabwe and Hong Kong are taken out, it goes up to 5.28.

"If you analyse the series, if the Pakistan bowlers were punished, so were the England bowlers," Inzamam said. "So whatever the conditions, we need experienced bowlers, and Amir is very much ahead of every bowler we have. He was originally never discarded either, but we kept him with the team for the England series."

On the two pacers who were left out, Inzamam said, "Junaid and Faheem are dropped but that doesn't mean they are not good. But we think players like Amir and Wahab are more suitable for these conditions, which is why we have preferred them."

Pakistan did utilise the 30 days the teams had been given - April 23 to May 23 - to make changes. They had named a 17-man squad for the England series and also carried Mohammad Hafeez while he was still recovering from injury. Hafeez missed the initial games but played the last two ODIs, scoring 59 in the first of them.

Pakistan are, however, missing a reserve wicketkeeper behind captain Sarfaraz Ahmed, but Inzamam confirmed that Mohammad Rizwan would stay on in England and fill in in case of an injury.

"I see my team at No. 1," Inzamam said. "I am sure all teams are working hard for the World Cup, but I think Pakistan have the capability to win the World Cup."

Lol! Pakis white wash debbaki senior bowlers ni included in squad.

Edited May 20, 2019 by Rshiva
Mistake

[Kool_SRG]

6 minutes ago, Rshiva said:

Lol! Pakis white wash debbaki senior bowlers ni included in squad.

Nothing wrong the bowling looks more potent now....

[Rshiva]

20 minutes ago, Kool_SRG said:

Nothing wrong the bowling looks more potent now....

Yeah! E debbatoh anna vallu fight back cheste it will be treat to watch pak team. But batting lo mindset change avvali still conventional aadutaru.

[problem]

Kedar jadhav is fit for the world cup, so that's good news

[Kontekurradu]

2 hours ago, Kool_SRG said:

Nothing wrong the bowling looks more potent now....

ya gabbar, nohit and VK will get out to him cheaply

[Quickgun_murugan]

1 hour ago, Kontekurradu said:

ya gabbar, nohit and VK will get out to him cheaply

Australia will win this world cup 

[dasara_bullodu]

5 hours ago, Kool_SRG said:

Nothing wrong the bowling looks more potent now....

This series is not a standard by any means. England last world cup lo manchi team e undi but most nervous team anni matches 50-50 

[Rshiva]

2 minutes ago, dasara_bullodu said:

This series is not a standard by any means. England last world cup lo manchi team e undi but most nervous team anni matches 50-50 

Last time world cup lo team ekkada manchidi. Qualifiers kuda vellaldu. They used to play traditional mindset. From then on they took specialist batsman with fearless mentality and see how it transformed in couple of years.

[Kool_SRG]

8 minutes ago, dasara_bullodu said:

This series is not a standard by any means. England last world cup lo manchi team e undi but most nervous team anni matches 50-50 

England last World cup lo ok, it is the team which improved like anything after that WC... You can see the record post 2015 WC its a completely new era of ODI cricket from England they game now they are in to is making them hot favorites & add to it home conditions.

[Rshiva]

4 minutes ago, Kool_SRG said:

England last World cup lo ok, it is the team which improved like anything after that WC... You can see the record post 2015 WC its a completely new era of ODI cricket from England they game now they are in to is making them hot favorites & add to it home conditions.

Yep. Fantastic aggression from the ball one. Oka rakamga cheppali ante redefined ODI batting. Manollu vunnaru ade traditional mindset.Left right combination. Slow aadutaru and oldies ekkuva vunnaru which does not instill any fear in opposition.

[dasara_bullodu]

57 minutes ago, Kool_SRG said:

England last World cup lo ok, it is the team which improved like anything after that WC... You can see the record post 2015 WC its a completely new era of ODI cricket from England they game now they are in to is making them hot favorites & add to it home conditions.

The team and home conditions are saving grace this time, some teams get real boost once the tournament starts like Pak, SL.

I am betting big on Kohli's captaincy he looks very hungry this time

[argadorn]

1 hour ago, dasara_bullodu said:

The team and home conditions are saving grace this time, some teams get real boost once the tournament starts like Pak, SL.

I am betting big on Kohli's captaincy he looks very hungry this time

pak correct ...sl valla bondha ....sa ind chokers 

[Sucker]

4 hours ago, Rshiva said:

Last time world cup lo team ekkada manchidi. Qualifiers kuda vellaldu. They used to play traditional mindset. From then on they took specialist batsman with fearless mentality and see how it transformed in couple of years.

Ivanni India meeda first 25 overs varake baa. aa tarvatha spin I mean Kuldeep gadi bowling antha veasy kadu. Moreover main matches lo eng doubt ye baa