World Cup 2023: 'Issue is I cannot pick Kuldeep Yadav' - Inzamam-ul-Haq's take on poor stats of Shadab and Nawaz

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Inzamam-ul-Haq announced Pakistan squad for World Cup 2023 on Friday and made no drastic changes to the team which played in the Asia Cup 2023. Injured Naseem Shah and Faheem Ashraf have been excluded and a comeback opportunity has been given to Hasan Ali who last played an ODI match in June 2022.

Pakistan are facing a lot of problems in their spin department which looked highly ineffective in the Asia Cup 2023. Shadab Khan picked six wickets in five matches at an average of 40.83 and Mohammad Nawaz managed to scalp only one wicket in three matches at an average of 94.00.

Regardless, the duo saved their spots and found a place in the 15-member squad led by Babar Azam. Leg-spinner Usama Mir has also retained his place, while another leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed has been named in the travelling reserve.

In the press conference on Monday, a reporter highlighted the below-par performances of Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz in their recent outing. Chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq played down the question with a reply which has gone viral.

Inzamam-ul-Haq in a humorous manner stated that the problem was that he could not pick Kuldeep Yadav as he plays for India. The chinaman bowler is at the top of his game recently and was adjudged Man of the Series in the Asia Cup 2023 where he picked nine wickets in five matches at an average of 11.44 and an economy rate of 3.61.

“You have come up with some good stats on both bowlers but let me say that I cannot select Kuldeep Yadav... for me that's an issue as he is from another team,” Inzamam was quoted as saying in the press conference.

The former Pakistan captain defended his decision and said Shadab and Nawaz were picked as they have been part of the plan for a while and the team wanted continuity.

"We have selected Shadab and Nawaz because we wanted continuity. The World Cup squad is planned for years ahead, and cannot be changed abruptly. Shadab and Nawaz have been doing very well for Pakistan for the past two years. They have not been taking wickets in the middle and performing up to their own caliber but they have done so in the past and we have confidence in them," Inzamam added.

Pakistan Squad for World Cup 2023

Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan (vc), Fakhar Zaman, Imam Ul Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Agha Salman, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Usama Mir, Mohammad Wasim Jr.

Traveling Reserves: Abrar Ahmed, Zaman Khan, Mohammad Haris