Asia Cup 2022: Shoaib Malik not part of Pakistan squad
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday announced a 15-member squad for the Asia Cup 2022.
The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) announced last month that the Asia Cup 2022 will be held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from August 27 to September 11. However, Sri Lanka will still officially have hosting rights. The Asia Cup, which was last played in 2018, will be played in the T20 format, with nine teams participating.
Shoaib Malik and Shan Masood are not part of Pakistan’s batting squad while fast bowler Naseem Shah has replaced Hasan Ali.
Shoaib Malik is Pakistan’s leading run-scorer in Asia Cup. He has scored 907 runs in 21 matches with an average of 64.78.
Shoaib Malik was part of the T20 World Cup 2021 and scored 101 runs in the tournament with a match-winning knock of 54 on 18 balls against Scotland.
“It’s been 25 years but Pakistan has not found a replacement for Shoaib Malik,” said former Pakistani cricketer Aaqib Javed said in an interview.
Read more – Asia Cup 2022 to be held in UAE
People are expressing their disappointment over the decision to drop Shoaib Malik and Shan Masood.
Have a look at some of the tweets:
Who will give justice to highly talented and inform @shani_official, no fix selection criteria. Dear @MuhammadWasim77 can you justify selection of Haider Ali,Iftekhar Ahmad and Salman Agha? pic.twitter.com/yWWCpvaX3u
— Abdul Majid Bhatti (@bhattimajid) August 3, 2022
Pakistan have dropped Shoaib Malik for the T20I Asia Cup 2022. Malik is the greatest middle-order batsman in T20I history, an under-rated bowler, and a spectacular fielder; guided many young Pakistan cricketers with his invaluable experience. Absolute legend, @realshoaibmalik.
— Daniel Alexander (@daniel86cricket) August 3, 2022
What else Shan Masood needs to do to get selectors’ attention? He has consistently ticked all the boxes to get selected, but selectors consistently doing injustice to him. #InjusticetoShan
— Rizwan Ali (@joji_39) August 3, 2022
Shoaib Malik should have been included in Pak Squad for Asia Cup
— Hamza Kaleem (@HKaleem23) August 3, 2022
Pakistan's middle order is incomplete without him we can't rely on Asif Ali and Khushdil Shah we need senior pro like Malik who can play according to the situation and hit biggies when required #AsiaCup2022 pic.twitter.com/ty5D75kp9t
Who said Shan Masood will be given a chance in the Netherlands tour??? WRONG! Shan’s form doesn’t mean anything to selectors, especially Mohammad Waseem..!
— Shahid Hashmi (@hashmi_shahid) August 3, 2022
Agar Shoaib Malik Hota Tu Kia Hi Baat Thi. https://t.co/uSqKsIQK3B
— Sajid 🇵🇰☆ÁHMÄĐ's empire☆ (@MSajidcheena19) August 3, 2022
https://twitter.com/aleeybae/status/1554740957286785024#ShoaibMalik must be in the team for #AsiaCup
— Shahzeb Awan 🇵🇰 (@ShahzebAwan_786) August 3, 2022
Pakistan squad for Asia Cup 2022: Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shahnawaz Dahani and Usman Qadir