At present, Usman Khan has been keeping wickets in T20 matches. While his performance has been deemed satisfactory, the search for additional options continues. Rohail Nazir, who has represented Pakistan in three T20 internationals, along with Saad Baig and Ghazi Ghori, are on the selectors’ radar.
The Pakistan cricket think tank is working toward preparing a backup pool of star players within the next six to seven months. Sources reveal that in the past, not enough focus was placed on building bench strength, which later caused problems.
When the supply of new talent slowed down, the seriousness of the issue became evident. Now, the goal is to have enough players in the system to form two to three competitive teams, so that if a player becomes unavailable due to injury or any other reason, a suitable replacement is readily available.
According to sources, special attention is being given to developing Ali Raza’s skills. The 17-year-old pacer has been advised to stay focused on his goals and not look back. Hopes are also pinned on Ahmad Daniyal.
Officials are reportedly very satisfied with the country’s growing pool of spin talent. Abrar Ahmed and Sufiyan Muqeem are performing well, while Saim Ayub has also been bowling effectively. The return of Shadab Khan is expected to further intensify competition for places.
The PCB also aims to strengthen the Pakistan Shaheens (A team). Coaches have been instructed to bring any promising talent they spot in Multan, Faisalabad, Peshawar, Abbottabad, or Muzaffarabad to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) for further development.