'In the 20-member squad, there are 22 pacers' - Shoaib Akhtar questions Pakistan team management

Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar questions the Pakistan team management for picking up a plethora of fast bowlers in the nation’s 20-member squad for the Test series against England. The Pakistan cricket team is scheduled to play a three-match Test and T20I series against England in a biosecure bubble from August 5 to September 1.

Recently, former Pakistan cricketers Shoaib Akhtar and Rashid Latif opined on Pakistan’s probable playing XI for the inaugural Test match against England. Akhtar said that he has no clue on who would be given a chance in the squad. He can’t decipher the mindset of the team management and captain on choosing so many pacers for the series.

“That we don’t know. They have announced a 20-member squad. In those twenty, there are around 22 fast bowlers. Let us see whom they select. Depends on the captain and the management, with which mindset they go in,” said Akhtar in a show on Geo Cricket.

“What they want and how the pitch is? How management sees the whole scenario. Zero idea what they are going to do. When the team list comes, you will come to know the exact mindset they are going in with. So far as we know right now, nothing,” he added.

The Rawalpindi Express further said that they would have to wait to see if the Pakistan team would follow an aggressive or defensive approach against the English team. Akhtar observed that he hasn’t seen the aggression in Azhar Ali’s captaincy. Also, the pacer believes that he would know if the Pakistan team is planning to win seeing their final bowling line-up.

There would be strong criticism if we lose the Test match because of wrong selection: Shoaib Akhtar

The 44-year-old feels that Naseem Shah and Shaheen Afridi would definitely be added in the final playing XI. Though Akhtar acknowledged that Sohail Khan has performed well in the practice games, there are fewer chances of him getting picked due to a number of options.

The Rawalpindi Express revealed that it would be extremely tough for the team management to select the final squad as a wrong selection could lead to a lot of criticism.

“If you lose the Test match because of a wrong selection, then there will be strong criticism. If 40 players have gone and from there also you don’t get a proper Test squad, then what can you do. I feel sorry for the management but they should pick their best XI.”

Shoaib also wants the Pakistan team to put pressure on the opposition from the very first ball and should not play with a defensive mindset.

Pakistan have picked eight seam bowlers in the 20-member squad: Faheem Ashraf, Imran Khan, Mohammad Abbas, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sohail Khan, Usman Shinwari and Wahab Riaz