Bilal Asif retained in Zimbabwe for the ODI rubber

Lahore: Chairman PCB Shaharyar Muhammad Khan has today approved retaining Bilal Asif in Zimbabwe as the 16^thmember in the one-day international squad following recommendation made by the national selection committee headed by Haroon Rashid.

Chief Selector Haroon Rashid Quotes:

“The request to retain Bilal Asif had been made by the team management, as conveyed by manager Mr Intikhab Alam. In a separate discussion with Misbah-ul-Haq, it was put forth by the Pakistan Test captain that since the England team contains five left-handed batsmen and because of Hafeez’s inability to bowl at international level, we were left with no off-spin bowling options in the Test squad.

“Misbah suggested that since Bilal Asif is presently the standout available option in the domestic circuit, so if we can try him in the ODI matches against Zimbabwe for assessing his off-spin bowling credentials, it may help us in case we intended to add him as the 16th member in the Test squad against England.

“We have already picked two left-arm spin bowlers in the Pak ‘A’ team to the UAE for this purpose but if Bilal Asif is found up to the mark in Zimbabwe, then we can have him in the Test squad as an off-spinner along with leggie Yasir Shah and left-arm spin of Zulfiqar Babar.

“The suggestion was discussed by the selectors, as well as with Head Coach Waqar Younis, and there was unanimity of view on the issue.”