Twitter Reactions: Pakistan drop Junaid Khan from their final World Cup squad

Pakistan assessed their preliminary squad during the limited-overs series against England and following the 0-1 loss in the one-off T20I and 0-4 defeat in the ODIs, made some key changes. On Monday, the former World Cup champions left out bowlers Junaid Khan, batsman Abid Ali and bowling all-rounder Faheem Ashraf from their final World Cup squad and replaced them with Mohammad Amir, Asif Ali and Wahab Riaz, respectively.

Veteran spinner Yasir Shah, who was named as Shadab Khan’s replacement for the England series, was also released from the squad. Shadab was down with a virus and ruled out of the England series. Addressing a press conference, chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq spoke on the revision of Pakistan’s World Cup squad combination, taking into account the fast bowlers’ performance as well as the nature of the wickets on which the games will be played at the mega event.

Seven out of eight innings that were played during the four ODIs between England and Pakistan saw an average score of 350 and the hosts went on to win four out of five games. The Pakistan side was disappointed with the bowling performance and hence the decision was taken to include two veteran pacers – Amir and Wahab. The 33-year-old Riaz had last played for Pakistan in June 2017.

“Junaid and Faheem had been originally preferred over a few other bowlers based on their recent performances and the investment we had made on them since 2017. They had the opportunity to cement their World Cup spots, but they were well below-par in the series against England even though they were up against the difficult challenge of bowling on placid and batsmen-friendly wickets,” Imzamam was quoted as saying.

The former Pakistan captain said that after understanding that the bat will continue to dominate the ball in the upcoming World Cup, Pakistan revised their strategy and fell back on the two experienced fast bowlers to back the youngsters in Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mohammad Hasnain.

Amir was initially not picked in the WC squad but was there in the squad for the England series. He though featured in one game which was washed out as he was down with chickenpox.

Social media not happy with Junaid’s ouster

The social media though was not convinced with 29-year-old Junaid’s ouster. Though he went for runs (142 runs and two wickets) in the two ODIs that he played for England, the fans felt he should have been in the final squad for they felt he had it in him to boost the Pakistan bowling. Some also called him a poor victim of bad luck for he came close to playing the previous two World Cups as well but missed out eventually.

Here are some of the reactions on Junaid’s exclusion from Pakistan’s final World Cup squad

Junaid Khan should have been in the worldcup squad. Two 19 years old in the squad with very less experience. Thats a gamble. #WorldCup2019 #Pakistan #CWC19

— Umair Ikram (@umair_ikram1) May 20, 2019

Wahab was going all over the place and you started winning when Junaid Khan came into the team back in #ct17

This is a mistake that @TheRealPCB has made with getting Wahab in for JK#CWC19 #cricket #EngvPak

— Hasaan Saeed (@HasaanSaeed) May 20, 2019

Unlucky Junaid Khan

— Aubaid (@Aubaid_) May 20, 2019

Junaid Khan
2011 WC – was in squad but didn't play a single game
2015 WC – got injured just 15-20 days before WC
2019 WC – dropped from final WC squad
What a bad luck…

— Shahzeb Ijaz (@ShahzebIjazPK) May 20, 2019

I think it should’ve been Junaid khan over wahab

— saad sarfaraz (@saadsarfaraz09) May 20, 2019

Junaid Khan in ODIs

Matches: 76
Wickets : 110
Average : 29
Economy : 5.35

He should have been the first choice for World Cup.#cwc19 pic.twitter.com/CDVroRTT9G

— Fahad Abbaci 🇵🇰 (@imfahadabbasi17) May 20, 2019

Totally unfair with Junaid khan he should be remain in Wc squad either in place of shaheen or Hussain rest of the changes are good enough

— Digital malang (@ShakirK25204308) May 20, 2019

Amir and wahab back in the Pakistan’s World Cup squad along with Asif Ali. Junaid Khan should have been in the squad #CWC19

— Irfan Khichi (@Irfan_khichi) May 20, 2019

PCB should prefer @JunaidkhanREAL on @MHasnainPak Junaid Khan is a expreiance bowler

happy to see @WahabViki on the squad he always perform in world events #ICC #PCB
Congrats @AasifAli2018 you deserve in the squad

— Mohammad Junaid khan (@m753khan) May 20, 2019

Junaid Khan k sath boht ziadti hui h

— HasnaIn Ali 🇵🇰 (@iemhasnain) May 20, 2019

Why Junaid khan dropped

— ihsanali (@ihsanali9) May 20, 2019

Wahab Riaz ko team main is liye jaga di k wo experience hain uncle wo pouchna ye tha k junaid Khan 2011 say khel raha hai or ye Husnain or Shaheen kb say khel rahay hain or England main Junaid Khan ki wahab Riaz say ziada wickets hain ….blunder marna koi #inzamam say seekhay

— Ahsan Mughal (@ahsansaeed04) May 20, 2019

Once again, they've left Junaid Khan out of the WC squad. It was obvious that Muhammad Hasnain is not the right fit for this WC and Junaid Khan was a better option. ALLAH hi hafiz hai is team ka

— Abdullah Qureshi (@M_Abdullah_Q) May 20, 2019

Junaid for Hasnain would be better option

— Waqas Chaudhry (@was_753) May 20, 2019

If Abid ali was drop then why hasnain for Junaid …Better squad if junaid was in place of hasnain.

— Syed Wasim Ali Shah (@SyedWasimAliSh3) May 20, 2019