Reports: Haris Sohail ignored by PCB selectors despite strong backing from skipper Babar Azam

Haris Sohail first burst onto the scene for Pakistan at the highest level in 2013 but, he could never cement his position successfully as he has always been in and out of the national team. Apart from being a very handy middle-order batter, Sohail also has the ability to provide some breakthroughs with his left-arm spin.

Meanwhile, reports have surfaced stating that Haris Sohail has been ignored by the selectors despite full backing from Pakistan skipper Babar Azam. The report also adds that “the 33-year-old was not among the 60 cricketers in the recently announced conditioning camp at National High-Performance Centre (NHPC).”

Haris Sohail excluded by selectors yet again

According to reports in Cricket Pakistan, “Haris Sohail is shocked and upset over the treatment meted out to him.” The source further adds that captain Babar Azam is strategizing ways to strengthen their middle-order in One Day Internationals due to which he wants Haris in the setup as he reckons that the Sialkot cricketer can play for a long period on slow and spin tracks. However, the selectors are not at all convinced of his plans.

In his international career so far, Haris Sohail has amassed 847, 1685, and 210 runs in 16 Tests, 42 ODIs, and 14 T20I appearances respectively. The senior all-rounder last donned the Pakistan jersey back in January 2021 during the away series against New Zealand. Even though the southpaw has not made too many appearances for the Men In Green, he has been a part of three ICC events.

While Haris Sohail was a member of Pakistan’s 2015 and 2019 World Cup squads, he was also a part of the Sarfaraz Ahmed-led squad that won their first and only Champions Trophy in 2017 with a thumping 180-run win over arch-rivals India in the final. Despite not getting many opportunities in the first half of his career, Haris Sohail would now be determined to not only make a successful international comeback but also cement his place in the 50-overs side with an eye on next year’s ODI World Cup in India.