World Cup 2019: Pakistan announce the reserve players' list for the tournament

One month after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced its preliminary 15-man squad for the World Cup, they have made major changes in the mix. While Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz and Asif Ali were included, they dropped Junaid Khan, Faheem Ashraf and Abid Ali from the team. However, Pakistan selectors have named Ashraf and Ali in the reserve players’ list for the showpiece event.

The first squad that was announced in the month of April had made some necessary yet risky exclusions, like the omission of experienced cricketers like Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Amir. However, players were given a chance to prove themselves in the five-match ODI series against England. The Men in Green went on to lose the series by 4-0 due to some lacklustre fielding and poor bowling.

The 20-year-old legspinner Shadab Khan was declared fit to travel to England a week ago. Meanwhile, Yasir Shah, who was named as his replacement for the England series, has also been released from the final squad declared on Monday. 

The 27-year-old Mohammad Amir couldn’t do much in the England series as he was down with suspected chicken pox. He has, however, been incorporated into the final squad, after being dropped previously. Not to forget, Amir was Pakistan’s hero in the Champions Trophy final wherein they defeated India. Meanwhile, Asif Ali who impressed in the bilateral series was also rewarded with a World Cup spot.

Mohammad Rizwan also included in the reserves list

Apart from Faheem Ashraf and Abid Ali, Mohammad Rizwan has also been named in the reserves list by Pakistan. The wicketkeeper-batsman was one of the better players in the series against Australia. The trio will stay in England according to chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq and get acclimatised to the conditions.

“Mohammad Rizwan, Abid Ali and Faheem Ashraf will remain in England. They’ll play cricket to stay in touch with the conditions and if we feel the need for any of them as replacements then we’ll have them as a backup,” he said while speaking to the reporters on Monday. The Pakistan team will start its World Cup campaign on May 31, when they face the Windies at Trent Bridge in Nottingham.

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