Karachi: Pakistan captain Babar Azam has turned down selector chairman Muhammad Wasim’s request to include specialist opener Shan Masood in the middle-order for the West Indies series as differences between the two have now become public. Wasim had said in an interview to a YouTube channel that he is in touch with Shaan, who has been scoring heavily in the English County Championship as well as the Vitality T20 Blast matches.
Wasim had discussed with Shaan the possibility of trying him in the middle order in the white-ball format as the competition for the opening slot in the Pakistan team was very tight. Wasim said, “I have said with pride that he should try to bat in the middle order now so that we have proof that he can make a difference for us.”
The interesting thing is that when the media spoke to Babar, he made it clear that there is no possibility of this happening. Babar insisted that adding Shan as a middle-order batsman would be unfair to the left-hander and other players who are already in contention for the middle-order slot.
“Shan Masood bats in the top order and he hasn’t batted in the lower order. I think it would be unfair to play Shaan at number five or six. We are keeping an eye on him and he will be considered keeping in mind the balance of the team. Shaan, 32, was part of the Pakistan Test squad for the recent home series against Australia but did not get a chance to play, but his form in the white-ball format has been impressive in domestic cricket, the PSL and now in England as well. ,
There is also speculation that Wasim and head coach Saqlain Mushtaq surrendered to Babar and other senior players after they refused to take a break from the ODI series against West Indies. Although Wasim denies this, word is that Babar did not agree to rest with the selectors and coaches while the fringe players were allowed to go against the West Indies.
Babar also shrugged off suggestions while talking to the media about giving wicketkeeper-batsman Muhammad Haris a crack at the three ODIs against Windies in Multan next week. “It is too early to give him a chance. Rizwan is not performing as expected in the ODIs but he is still improving his position. Our combination is balanced and I have full faith in Rizwan as I will always give him a pat.”
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