Pakistan Squad For T20 World Cup 2024: Four Notable Exclusions from 15-Member Team

Add as a preferred source on Google

As Pakistan gears up for the T20 World Cup 2024, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has unveiled a squad brimming with talent and potential. However, amidst the excitement and anticipation, some key players have notably missed out on selection.

While some may think that names such as Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Nawaz and Mohammad Wasim Jr, but they were never in the reckoning in build-up to the tournament as they didn't feature in any of the series over performance reasons.

Still there were four names that had some hopes of making the squad. Let's take a look at who are they.

Hasan Ali

Hasan Ali's exclusion from the T20 World Cup squad was somewhat anticipated. The experienced pacer was recently allowed to leave the Pakistan team for his county commitments with Warwickshire, indicating his services were no longer required, especially with the return of Haris Rauf from injury. Rauf, known for his express pace and wicket-taking ability in the middle overs, has become a preferred choice for the team management.

Hasan Ali was initially selected for the Ireland and England tours due to his extensive experience and impressive performance in the HBL Pakistan Super League 2024, where he claimed 14 wickets.

The PCB had then highlighted his experience in T20Is and ICC events as a valuable asset. However, despite his notable contributions, the decision to prioritize Rauf's fit and aggressive bowling style over Ali's experience was clear.

Salman Ali Agha

Salman Ali Agha's exclusion is surprising, given his stellar performance in the PSL 2024, where his middle-order heroics played a crucial role in Islamabad United's title win. Salman's ability to bat aggressively and contribute with off-spin bowling made him a versatile option for the squad. His initial inclusion for the Ireland-England tour was intended to strengthen Pakistan's middle-order and spin department.

Despite these credentials, Salman Ali Agha found himself out of favor, largely due to team strategy adjustments. With Babar Azam moving himself to the No. 3 position and the presence of Shadab Khan and Usman Khan in the middle-order, Salman's role became redundant. The team management's focus on maintaining a balanced lineup with specific roles ultimately left Salman out of the squad.

Irfan Khan Niazi

Irfan Khan Niazi was on the verge of making a significant impact after being included in the squad for his promising performances in the lower-middle order for Karachi Kings. However, his journey took an unfortunate turn due to a hamstring injury sustained during the home series against New Zealand.

Though he travelled with the team to Ireland and England, he didn't play any matches, raising concerns about his fitness and readiness.

Irfan's exclusion is also a reflection of the strong competition for the finisher's role. Azam Khan and Iftikhar Ahmed, known for their power-hitting and high strike-rates, were preferred over Irfan. Their proven ability to deliver under pressure made them more suitable choices for the World Cup squad.

Usama Mir

Usama Mir's exclusion is another significant decision by the selectors. Despite being the highest wicket-taker in PSL 2024 with 24 wickets, the leg-spinner was overlooked. After being dropped following the Pakistan vs New Zealand home series, Mir was not included in the World Cup squad.

Instead, the selectors opted for Abrar Ahmed and Shadab Khan as the specialist spinners. The squad also includes spin all-rounders like Imad Wasim and Iftikhar Ahmed, who offer both batting and bowling options, thus leaving no room for Mir.