Karachi, August 08: Newly appointed Pakistan Chief Selector Iqbal Qasim feels controversial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, though left out of the Champions Trophy probables, still has a future in international cricket if he proves his fitness.
“The door is not closed on Shoaib Akhtar, he can still play cricket for Pakistan in future, however what he needs to do is to prove to the selection
committee that he is fit enough for international cricket,” Qasim said.
The former left-arm spinner said if Akhtar was able to prove his fitness on a regular basis in the coming domestic season he would be in the team.
“It is absolutely vital that Shoaib Akhtar performs well and on a regular basis in the coming domestic cricket season and proves to the selectors
that not only is he bowling well and taking wickets, but he can maintain his fitness levels too. It’s down to Shoaib to show us that he can get
himself fit and bowl well,” he was quoted as saying by the ‘Pakpassion’.
“I am going about this job with a very open mind and the selection door is open to youngsters, up and coming players and of course to former
international players who are not in the current squad in Sri Lanka. Basically, anyone who is performing well in domestic cricket stands a very good
chance of selection,” Qasim added.
The former bowler, who has 171 Test wickets to his credit, however made it clear that “No players can be selected for the Champions Trophy from
outside the 30 original names”.
On Pakistan team’s failure in Tests as well as ODIs in Sri Lanka, Qasim said “It would be unfair for me to start talking about any players while they
are in the middle of a tour, but again we’ll expect the players in Sri Lanka at the moment to come back to Pakistan and play in the domestic
competitions and show to the selectors what sort of form they are in,” he said.
—–PTI