Experienced left-arm pacer Mohammad Amir was included in Pakistan's World Cup squad after lacklustre performance by its bowlers against England. The thrashing by English batsmen in a T20 International and two ODIs has alarmed the selectors, who were initially not keen on picking Amir for the showpiece owing to lack of form. Though Amir is suspected to be suffering from chicken pox and will have a medical examination done in London, a reliable source said that the team management, including captain Sarfaraz Ahmed and head coach Mickey Arthur, expressed confidence in the bowler and allowed him time to recover.
“The chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq is also in agreement with the team management but he wants to first make sure Amir can be fit by the time the World Cup starts from 30 May,” a PCB official said. He said the team management and chief selector are now awaiting the medical report of Amir who was sent to London to stay with his in-laws after it first emerged he might have contracted chicken pox. “If the cricket board confirms that Amir can make a recovery in two weeks time, the management and chief selector will want him in the World Cup squad,” the PCB official said. The lacklustre performance of the bowlers in the matches against England forced the team management to go back to Amir, who was not part of the 15-man squad named initially. "They are also keeping a close look at Asif Ali who has scored two successive half-centuries in the ODIs and if he continues his form he might well be included in the World Cup squad,” he added.
