Some senior Pakistan cricketers are reportedly contemplating withdrawing from the upcoming New Zealand tour to avoid the risk of being dropped due to their poor performances in the ICC Champions Trophy, sources told Geo News on Friday.
The disappointing campaign, which ended without a single win, has not only drawn heavy criticism from fans and the cricket fraternity but has also attracted political attention. “The prime minister will personally take notice and we will also ask him to raise these [cricket-related] issues in the cabinet as well as in parliament,” PM Shehbaz Sharif‘s aide on Political and Public Affairs, Rana Sanaullah, stated on Geo News’ programme “Geo Pakistan.”
Pakistan’s early exit from the first global tournament held in the country since 1996, including a six-wicket defeat to arch-rivals India, has left PCB officials dissatisfied. The washed-out match against Bangladesh at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium further added to the team’s woes.
Amid growing concerns, sources indicate that some players fear being officially labeled as “dropped” and are instead considering taking a “break” from the New Zealand series. The tour, scheduled from March 16 to April 5, comprises five T20Is and three ODIs.
Reports suggest that key players, including Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, and Babar Azam, could be at risk of exclusion, fueling further speculation about the squad’s composition for the upcoming matches.
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