Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) retained pacer Mohammad Irfan and experienced all-rounder Shoaib Malik for three matches ODI series against India starting at Chennai from Sunday (today). Both Mohammad Irfan and Shoaib Malik are only selected for two Twenty20 matches against India. However, both are retained for the ODI series after their performance in two Twenty20 matches.
Pakistan managed to register maiden victory against India in first Twenty20 match due to outstanding performance by Shoaib Malik. However, Pakistan lost 2nd Twenty20 by 11 runs thus ended Twenty20 series in a 1-1 draw. "On the request of Pakistan Team Management the National Selection Committee has agreed to retain Shoaib Malik and Muhammad Irfan for the Pakistan ODI Squad against India," a spokesman of PCB said.
It may be noted that Shoaib Malik scored a match winning half-century in the first Twenty20 at Bangalore while Irfan impressed everyone with his bowling in both the games. Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi, however, could not manage to win the confidence of the team management and will return home along with those players who were only selected for the Twenty20 series.
Critics believe that retention of Shoaib Malik for the ODI series may cause selection headaches for the tour selection committee as the ODI squad already includes specialist batsmen like Imran Farhat, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq. Former skipper Wasim Akram praised fast bowler Mohammad Irfan for bowling a tight line against India in the first Twenty20 international in Bangalore and said he would be difficult bowler to handle for the opposition batsmen.
"I am very impressed with his (Mohammad Irfan) performance. I was amazed to see him bowling around 142 and 144 (kmph) at his height, and he also maintained a good aggressive line. If he keeps on bowling like this and further improves he will prove to be too hot to handle for many of the world's leading players," Akram said. Irfan came back to the national side after being dropped in 2010 and returned with the figures of 25 for 1 in his four overs in Bangalore.
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