Mickey Arthur feels Sohail Khan has a slim chance of making a comeback

The head coach of Pakistan Mickey Arthur feels that Sohail Khan is ten years too old to make his comeback to the national side. He appreciated the efforts being put in by the fast bowler but played down the chances of him being in the reckoning to play for Pakistan. Though Arthur felt that if he would have worked hard earlier when age was on his side, then Sohail would have become a big international player.

Sohail Khan last donned Pakistan jersey in Lahore when World XI toured the country for three-match T20I series. He didn’t impress in the only game he played and then was dropped. Also, he has not featured in ODI and Test side since late 2016 and it is hard for him now to return as young bowlers have emerged in that period. The likes of Hasan Ali, Usman Khan Shinwari and Rumman Raees have taken over as Mohammad Amir leads the bowling attack.

I admire his hard work

Mickey Arthur was impressed with the hard work Sohail has been putting in during training and bowling but opined that his age goes against the cricketer. “I and Sohail enjoy good relations and I admire the hard work Sohail has been doing. “He has altered his mindset and has been bowling well,” he said according to Dawn. He also thought that he is late for the national selection and has eventually dashed his hopes of returning.

“But I keep telling him that he is 34-years-old now while we have got many younger players who are playing really good cricket at 23 and 24 years of age. Unfortunately, that is the harsh truth. The systems might have failed him long ago, but if ten years ago he had done what he is doing right now, then who knows how big an international player he would have become,” Arthur added.