'The middle-order is inexperienced' - Inzamam-ul-Haq questions Haris Sohail, Sohaib Maqsood's inclusion, asks why Shoaib Malik was ignored

Inzamam-ul-Haq has raised questions over the fitness levels of Haris Sohail and Sohaib Maqsood, who both have named in the team’s squad for the white-ball series against England starting on July 8 in Cardiff with the first of three ODIs. Owing to pain in his right leg, Maqsood skipped Pakistan’s training session on July 5 and 6, while Sohail sat out due to injury too.

“Sohaib Maqsood has given good performance but there is an issue with his fitness. I don’t know how he will survive in 50 overs cricket. He has done well in T20s but he hasn’t played 50-over cricket for a while so it will be difficult for him,” Inzamam said on his YouTube channel.

Opening up further, the 51-year-old stated that Pakistan must have given veteran Shoaib Malik a look-in in the side, but he feels that being critical of the Pakistan team management led him to lose his spot in the side. Notably, Malik has been one of the senior-most players in the current Pakistan setup, but the management opted to sideline him for the England tour.

Pakistan’s middle-order is inexperienced: Inzamam-ul-Haq

Inzamam stressed the need for having a senior player in the team, especially given Pakistan’s problematic middle-order.

“If Mohammad Hafeez doesn’t perform, then the rest of your middle-order is inexperienced. Azam Khan is playing his first series and Sohaib Maqsood is making his comeback, so it will be difficult for him to handle the responsibility of the entire middle-order,” he said.

“I think Shoaib Malik is a brilliant T20 player and they could have included him. But I think he gave some statements against the head coach, so that is why I think he was overlooked. We should not do experiments ahead of the T20 World Cup and should rather make use of our experienced players,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, Pakistan will be taking on a second-string squad after seven members of the host camp tested Covid-19 positive yesterday and were asked to isolate immediately. Naming a fresh 18-man squad, the ECB stated that the series would go on as per schedule, with Ben Stokes set to lead the side in Eoin Morgan’s absence.