Chief Selector not ruling out Sarfaraz Ahmed for 2023 World Cup

Chief Selector, Haroon Rasheed, has addressed the possibility of including Sarfaraz Ahmed in the national squad for the upcoming 2023 World Cup. 

While Sarfaraz has showcased exceptional performance in Test cricket, Rasheed acknowledged that his performance in shorter formats is still a matter of evaluation.

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While speaking to Cricket Pakistan in an exclusive interview, Rasheed emphasized that the decision regarding Sarfaraz's inclusion in the World Cup squad would be premature at this stage. 

“As far as Sarfaraz Ahmed is concerned, he has given outstanding performance in Test cricket, there is no doubt about it, and that's why you see him in the Test squad. But talking about his performance in One-Day and shorter-formats, it is obviously premature,” Rasheed said.

The Chief Selector emphasized that no player should be ruled out at this stage, as there is still ample time for assessments and considerations. When the selectors convene for the final squad selection, they will carefully evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each player. Their primary focus will be on identifying individuals who can thrive in the specific conditions expected in India. 

“The Asia Cup is happening in Sri Lanka, and we don't know what decision will be made for the World Cup in India. There are spin-friendly and slow pitches there, where you need batters who can play spinners well. So you can't rule anyone out, but when we sit down for the final selection, we will weigh their good and bad points and see who can benefit us more in those conditions, and then decisions will be made,” he added.