LAHORE:PCB’s Director High Performance, National Selector Aqib Javed has said that speedster Haris Rauf missed out on selection from the Sri Lanka bound 15-member T20I World Cup squad due to Sri Lankan pitch-conditions and not ability or form.
During a press conference to announce the 15-member squad at the media center of the Gaddafi Stadium here on Sunday, he said Haris Rauf has rendered excellent service to Pakistan in white-ball cricket over the years, adding that nature of Sri Lankan conditions and pitches was taken into account, and these factors proved to be decisive in the selection.
To a query regarding Mohammad Rizwan’s absence from the World Cup squad, the former fast-bowler said comparison between ace-batter Babar Azam and wicket-keeper batter Mohammad Rizwan was unjustified, adding that team balance and strategy were preferred to individual comparisons in team selection.
Aqib Javed discussed in detail the thought process in the making of the Pakistan’s 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 to be held jointly in India and Sri Lanka. Under the ICC’s hybrid model, Pakistan will play all its matches in Sri Lanka.
