Ahmed Shehzad Dropped “Pakistan Cricket Team Will be Provided Full Security,”

The Board of Control for Cricket in India secretary Anurag Thakur said “no country should feel insecure” about playing in India amid reports that Pakistan has proposed to play its matches in the upcoming World T20 at a neutral venue citing security concerns. “BCCI will organise the World Cup in the nicest possible way and will provide every team with highest protection. Earlier also we have hosted many World Cups and international matches and I don’t think any country should feel insecure here,” Thakur said.

Pakistan’s cricket chief Shahryar Khan had earlier stated that a proposal was sent to play their World Twenty20 matches on neutral venues next month in the event Islamabad does not allow the team to tour India.

The 41-year-old Thakur said that it was entirely up to Pakistan to decide whether they wanted to play the World T20 in India or not.

“Bilateral series is totally a different topic but in the World Cup teams from across the world will come and participate. Pakistan is one among those 16 teams and the Indian government will provide complete security to all the teams. I think all the qualifying teams should come and participate in the World Cup. India is ready and if any country has some issues then they need to decide about it,” he said.

The PCB had initially hinted that its side might withdraw from the upcoming event if the Pakistan government did not permit them to tour India.

Shaharyar later added that they had also made a proposal during the recent ICC Board meeting in Dubai that Pakistan be allowed to play their matches at neutral venues in case the government’s decision is not favourable.

Pakistan have made four changes to their squad for this month’s Asia Cup followed by the World Twenty20 including the axing of struggling opener Ahmed Shehzad after a poor run of form. The 24-year-old Shehzad managed just 33 runs in Pakistan’s 2-1 Twenty20 series loss in New Zealand last month and is one of four changes selectors made from the last tour.

Also out are Sohaib Maqsood, paceman Umar Gul and wicket-keeper batsman Mohammad Rizwan as chief selector Haroon Rasheed said the squad was selected after considering the conditions in Asia Cup hosts Bangladesh and India, where the World Twenty20 will be staged.

“While picking the squad, the team management and skipper were consulted by the selectors, and all concerned gave their consent in this regard,” Rasheed said

Shehzad’s place goes to 29-year-old Khurram Manzoor who had played 16 Tests and seven one-day internationals for Pakistan but has never featured in a Twenty20 game.

He scored 309 runs in Pakistan’s Twenty20 tournament with a strike rate of 133 which earned him the place.

Rasheed said it was not as if Shehzad hasn’t been given a chance to show his worth.

“We gave Shahezad consistent chances. His confidence level is down after a run of poor form, which happens to players, so why not give a chance to someone else who is in good nick?” said Rasheed.

Left-arm paceman Rumman Raees and left-arm spinning allrounder Mohammad Nawaz were also rewarded for their showings at domestic level.

The 21-year old Nawaz has taken eight wickets in four Pakistan Super League matches in Dubai and showed good form with the bat as well.

Also returned to the squad is lanky paceman Mohammad Irfan, rested for the Twenty20 series in New Zealand, making a four-pronged pace attack with all left-handers, with the sole right arm bowler coming in the shape of medium pacer Anwar Ali.

Squad: Shahid Afridi (capt), Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Sarfraz Ahmed, Babar Azam, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Anwar Ali, Mohammad Irfan, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Nawaz, Khurram Manzoor, Rumman Raees