Malik snubbed for his comments against Misbah, claims Inzamam
Inzamam-ul-Haq has batted for Shoaib Malik's inclusion in Pakistan's T20I squad
LAHORE (Web Desk) – Former Pakistan chief selector and captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has claimed veteran batsman Shoaib Malik was not picked in the T20I squad for the England series due to his comments against head coach Misbah-ul-Haq.
Malik is one of the senior-most players currently in the Pakistan setup and has done well for the team in the shortest format of the game. However, he has not been named in the squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series in England.
Inzamam has batted for Malik s inclusion in the squad stressing on the importance of having someone experienced in the middle-order. In a video of his YouTube channel, Inzamam explained how Pakistan s middle-order is experienced and needs someone like Malik to take the pressure of Mohammad Hafeez. Along with Hafeez, the likes of Azam Khan and Shoaib Maqsood will be batting in the middle-order for Pakistan in the England series.
“If Mohammad Hafeez doesn’t perform then the rest of your middle-order is inexperienced. Azam Khan is playing his first series and Sohaib Maqsood is making his comeback, so it will be difficult for him to handle the responsibility of the entire middle-order,” said Inzamam.
“I think Shoaib Malik is a brilliant T20 player and they could have included him. But I think he gave some statement against the head coach, so that is why I think he was overlooked. We should not do experiments ahead of the T20 World Cup and should rather make use of our experienced players,” Inzamam said.
Pakistan had drawn the T20I series 1-1 on their last tour of England last year and will be hoping to register a victory this time around against a second-string England side. England squad was forced into isolation on Tuesday (July 6) after seven members of the camp tested positive and a second-string squad led by Ben Stokes will take on Babar Azam & Co. in the three-match ODI series starting from July 8.
