We can't discount Amir from the World Cup 2019, says Wasim Akram

When Pakistan announced their 15-man squad for the upcoming ICC World Cup 2019, a big shock went through the cricketing fraternity when the list missed the name of Mohammad Amir. The left-arm pace bowler admittingly wasn’t having the best of ODI cricket since his final winning spell against India in ICC Champions Trophy 2017 in England.

Based on his recent form, where he took just five wickets in his last 14 ODIs after his Champions Trophy triumph, chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq decided to leave him out of the World Cup squad. The 27-year-old Amir hasn’t played a World Cup yet as he missed the 2011 and 2015 World Cup due to an embarrassing five-year ban over match-fixing.

However, he has found huge support from someone who is regarded as one of the greatest bowlers of all time, Wasim Akram. Akram said that though Amir is not in Pakistan’s preliminary squad for the upcoming World Cup, one cannot discount the fast bowler for the mega ICC event starting from May 30.

Amir would have been my first choice for the World Cup, says Akram

“We can’t discount Amir from the World Cup. Amir would have been my first choice for the World Cup considering English conditions where he performs well. I am confident that he will do well once his rhythm is back,” Wasim Akram was quoted as saying by Sportstar.

Pakistani squad for the World Cup consists of a mix of youngsters and veterans with the likes of Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Hafeez to the likes of Mohammad Hasnain and Shaheen Shah Afridi in the team. Wasim, a veteran of five World Cups in 1987, 1992, 1996, 1999 and 2003, further mentioned, “I am all for youth but experience has no substitute, so we should mix youth with experience. He is a good learner so I hope things will come good for him sooner than later because Pakistan team needs him.”

Also read: Pakistan not a side to be written off from World Cup, says Nasser Hussain

Pakistan will be playing some practice matches before their five-match ODI series against England. They will also play two warm-up World Cup games against Afghanistan on May 24 and Bangladesh on May 26, before taking on the West Indies in its first World Cup match in Nottingham on May 31.

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