We have nearly finalised team combination for T20 World Cup: Misbah

Pakistan’s head coach Misbahul Haq has stated that the Men in Green are close to finalising their team combination for this year’s T20 World Cup.

While speaking to media in a virtual press conference ahead of the T20I series against West Indies, Misbah said that around nine players of the playing XI are more or less finalised.

“I had said [before England tour] that we will be able to finalise our team combination [for the T20 World Cup after England series] and we are near to that. Obviously, there are still some problems. Unfortunately, our middle-order has not been able to perform well like our top-order,” said Misbah.

“We know eight or nine players of our playing XI, along with their replacements. Results have not gone our way but we have an idea about our team combination [for the T20 World Cup],” he added.

He also spoke about middle-order batsman Azam Khan, who played two matches during the recently concluded T20I series against England.

“We can’t judge him [Azam Khan] right now because he has only played one proper innings especially when you have a required rate of 12-14 runs per over. A player at that position has to go out and score quick runs straightaway. We still have this [West Indies] series so let’s see how he goes,” he said.

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Misbah also shed light on playing during the pandemic after a non-playing member of West Indies side tested positive for Covid-19, before the second ODI of the ongoing series against Australia.

“Obviously everyone is concerned but we have to adapt because this is how cricket and other sports are going to proceed. There is also psychological pressure of playing amid Covid-19, especially with quarantine and travelling from bubble to bubble,” he said.

“The Pakistan Cricket Board and West Indies board are trying their best to ensure that we play in a safe and sound environment,” he concluded.