Asia Cup 2022: You will not get a better option than Mohammad Shami – Irfan Pathan

Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has urged the selectors to include Mohammad Shami in the squad for the T20 World Cup. Shami was not picked in the Asia Cup squad as Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan and Arshdeep Singh were selected after Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel were ruled out due to respective injuries.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Shami had last played a T20I format in the 2021 T20 World Cup and since then he hasn’t been considered for selection. However, Shami has all the experience under his belt and he can be an asset for the team.

Shami had scalped 20 wickets in 16 matches for Gujarat Titans in IPL 2022 and had played a key role in the success of his team. The right-arm fast bowler is known to swing the ball in the PowerPlay overs and he is mostly right on the money. But Shami can be a bit expensive in the shortest format of the game as he has an economy rate of 9.55 in T20I cricket.

Irfan Pathan said on Star Sports, “The team you chose, you didn’t use the sixth bowler, and you didn’t get the result you wanted from the other five bowlers. Now there is an opportunity here whether a bowler can come in the World Cup race who can help the Indian team. I feel if you are looking for only the new ball, you will not get a better option than Mohammad Shami.”

“There are a lot of bowlers who have raised their hands, there are options, but they are young and inexperienced. If you see experience and form, Mohammad Shami is furthest ahead.”

Meanwhile, it has been noticed that India has been experimenting a lot in the shortest format of the game and they had a spin heavy attack for the Asia Cup. But at the same time, Pathan said the team should also look to win the matches they play.

“You don’t want to only learn, you also want to win. That is the reality. No team thinks that they will just play the World Cup and it is okay to lose the other matches, that does not happen.”

Pathan concluded by saying that India should have successfully defended against Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the last two matches.

“You will have to prepare better. You will have to first accept that you didn’t play good cricket. You should have defended these runs, close to 180, on this pitch.”

India will face Afghanistan on Thursday in Dubai.