Misbah-ul-Haq clears his stand after dropping Mohammad Amir and Shoaib Malik for New Zealand tour

Pakistan’s head coach Misbah-ul-Haq picked the national squad for the last time in the role of a chief selector on Wednesday. In the same light, he explained his stand for dropping the senior players like Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Amir from their upcoming tour of New Zealand. For the unversed, the duo was also not a part of their recently concluded series against Zimbabwe at home.

Speaking at the Gadaffi Stadium in Lahore, Misbah-ul-Haq stated that selectors would like to shift their attention and investment in the youngsters now. The young players will be kept in the priority who are available for all the three formats of the game. All the focus has been shifted to youngsters who are looking promising at the current moment and can emerge as big names in Pakistan.

“Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Amir are not part of the white-ball matches as for this tour we have opted to invest, develop and focus on the promising and emerging players who are likely to be available to Pakistan for all formats. We have kept faith in Mohammad Hafeez and Wahab Riaz purely on the basis of their outstanding and consistent performances as well as the value they bring to the T20I squad,” he said in a press conference.

He has also congratulated the youngsters who have made it to the national squad. His special wishes have gone for the youngsters who have got selected in the Pakistan Shaheens. Uncapped players like Amad Butt, Danish Aziz, Imran Butt, and Rohail Nazir have impressed the selectors with their form and technique recently.

I want to congratulate uncapped players, says Misbah-ul-Haq

“I want to congratulate uncapped Amad Butt, Danish Aziz, Imran Butt, and Rohail Nazir who have impressed the selectors with their form, technique, temperament, and ability to secure places in the 35-player pool. However, these four players are amongst some other players who have been selected specifically for Shaheens as part of our strategy to build our bench strength,” Misbah-ul-Haq added.

Their ongoing domestic season has produced three great and consistent spinners in form of Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, and Zahid Mahmood, who have impressed him.