Wasim Akram and Dav Whatmore support Sohail Khan's inclusion

Former head coach of Pakistan cricket team Dav Whatmore and former captain Wasim Akram have backed the selector’s decision to add right arm fast bowler Sohail Khan and expressed surprise over coach Mickey Arthur’s statement about fast bowler Sohail Khan.

Pakistan made one change to their XI from Brisbane, picking Sohail in place of Rahat Ali to add variety to the one dimension ‘all – left arm fast bowlers’ bowling attack which comprises of Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz.

Head Coach Mickey Arthur looked sceptic about Sohail Khan’s success, though. While talking to ABC radio ahead of the match, Arthur said, “Sohail Khan comes in and swings it right arm, but I’ve got a doubt about Sohail’s comeback ability.”

Arthur had questioned Sohail Khan’s ability to bowl beyond the second spell after third day’s play between Pakistan and Australia at Brisbane.

“If he has got to bowl, his first spell is very good, his second spell’s okay, his third spell is tough and then you just don’t get anything more. That puts a lot of pressure on our other units,” the coach had commented about the right arm fast bowler.

However, the statement didn’t get any backing from former great Wasim Akram and the former head coach Dav Whatmore.

“Sohail’s inclusion is very positive, Pakistan’s attack was one dimensional in the previous game. Sohail Khan is a wicket taking bowler and he has been performing well recently,” said Wasim Akram.

“I don’t know why the coach made such statement about him,” commented Swing Ka Sultan when Geo’s Sohail Imran asked for his reaction on Arthur’s comment in Melbourne.

Akram said that if Sohail wasn’t good enough then why he was included in the squad.

“If there was any problem with Sohail then why is he is there. I hope this wicket would suit him and I always was supporting a bowler who could take wickets with the new ball” he commented.

Former coach Dav Whatmore suggested that Mickey Arthur should be careful while expressing feelings about his players.

“It was surprising I have read, my eyebrows raised a little bit when I read that. Whatever is your personal feelings, you need to be a little bit careful in the way which you express it,” the former coach said in Melbourne.