LAHORE : A major disagreement has reportedly erupted within the Pakistan cricket team management on the eve of their crucial ICC T20 World Cup group stage match against Namibia, with head coach Mike Hesson and captain Salman Ali Agha refusing to drop underperforming senior players.
According to well-placed sources, the team management is locked in a stalemate over selection for the must-win fixture, with a firm stance taken on retaining the trio of Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Shadab Khan. The sources indicate that despite intense pressure to shake up the playing XI following a string of poor performances, the coaching staff and captain could not agree to bench any of the senior members of the squad.
The deadlock means that players like Sahibzada Farhan and Abrar Ahmed are likely to be the ones making way, rather than the established stars. Discussions are ongoing to reintegrate Fakhar Zaman, who is being considered for the opening slot, while pacer Naseem Shah is also in line for a return.
Furthermore, the team management is consulting on the possibility of handing a chance to all-rounder Khawaja Nafi, suggesting that any changes to the lineup will be limited to the fringes of the squad.
The reluctance to drop the senior players comes despite their collective failure in the high-voltage loss against India, where the batting lineup crumbled and the bowling attack failed to defend a competitive total. Sources suggest that despite these failures, the management remains adamant that the senior core is not the issue.
Pakistan faces Namibia in their final group stage match tomorrow. The result of this encounter will be the sole decider of whether the Men in Green progress to the coveted Super 8 stage of the tournament or face an embarrassing early exit.
