Pakistan drop Amir for Australia Test series

E-Paper | October 02, 2026

Pakistan drop Amir for Australia Test series

Dawn.com Published September 27, 2018

Amir has been dropped for the Australia series — File

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Pakistan Cricket Board announced a 17-member squad for the upcoming two-Test home series against Australia, set to kick off from October 7 in the UAE.

Out-of-form pacer Mohammad Amir, who struggled in the ongoing Asia Cup 2018, has been dropped in favour of Wahab Riaz.

Rahat Ali, who had been a part of the side that toured England in the summer, has also been dropped. Replacing him is Mir Hamza.

Instead of a 15-man squad like last time, the Inzamamul Haq selection committee has named two additional players, with backup wicketkeeper Muhammad Rizwan and fit-again Yasir Shah being the beneficiaries.

Under-fire skipper Sarfraz Ahmed has not been rested despite rumours to the contrary ahead of the team announcement.

Full squad:

Azhar Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Imamul Haq, Babar Azam, Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Usman Salahuddin, Sarfraz Ahmed, Yasir Shah, Shadab Khan, Bilal Asif, Muhammad Abbas, Hassan Ali, Wahab Riaz, Faheem Ashraf, Mir Hamza, Muhammad Rizwan

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Ghalib

Sep 27, 2018 08:04pm

Safraz does not a rest he needs to prove he has the calibre to play in the first place.

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M. Saeed

Sep 27, 2018 08:04pm

Another seriously lopsided decision. Dubai cannot be a testing place for a real talent.

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Faisal Abbas

Sep 27, 2018 08:13pm

They can't play two leg spinners in the same match and they do need two spinners, so where is the offspinner. Why can't they take an offspinner? Why are they obsessed with fast bowlers when in UAE you clearly need spinners. It's going to be the same result as last year against SL due to this selection.

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Anti-Corruption_Pakistani

Sep 27, 2018 08:18pm

Good decision, given chance to young players, who are eager to prove their talent and willing to learn! Decision should be made on merits without any 'Safarish'.

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SYED A BOKHARI

Sep 27, 2018 08:22pm

Fawad Alam should have been included instead of Fakhar Zaman, who is not a test player at all

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Sid

Sep 27, 2018 08:27pm

Wahab?! I would rather play a newcomer instead

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ahmad

Sep 27, 2018 08:28pm

Yes he was out of form,but to drop him?That is just absurd

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Iffe

Sep 27, 2018 08:31pm

No Fawad Alam again... Not even in Pakistan A team makes one wonder...

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Rahul

Sep 27, 2018 08:32pm

You picked Aamir after his 5 year ban got over. You dropped Junaid Khan to make his place in the side. He was your blue eyed boy in Champion's Trophy. You dropped Wahab Riaz during the champions trophy because of one bad performance against India. Now after Aamir failed you got back Junaid Khan for the Asia Cup and now you got back Wahab Riaz to replace Aamir for Australia. Your selection committee is so confused. And where's the new talent which every Pakistan commentator keeps talking about???

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Rahul

Sep 27, 2018 08:35pm

No Junaid Khan, you have got to be kidding me!! He was the only impressive bowler in Asia cup from Pakistan.

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SAM, UK

Sep 27, 2018 08:36pm

Where is another specialist spinner? Why so many pacers in UAE conditions?

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Amjad

Sep 27, 2018 08:37pm

I see nephew is in the side

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Sam

Sep 27, 2018 08:41pm

What kind of selection is this? How come Fakhar zaman is part of the test team? Why no fawad alam? Inzimam unfortunately is being driven by some bias. When team is not selected on merit, you are bound to fail.

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pakistan deserves better

Sep 27, 2018 08:41pm

Sad how players take their spot in the team for granted..

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MagicJJ

Sep 27, 2018 08:43pm

My team for test matches: 1. Azhar 2. Imam ul haq 3. Babr Azam 4. Haris Sohail 5. Sarfraz 6. Asad Shafiq 7.Shadab 8. Faheem 9.Yasir 10. M. Abbas or Hassan Ali 11. Wahab What do u think ? I am not sure of Faheem spot since UAE pitches are not ideal for medium pacers but he showed in UK he can bat.

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Ammar

Sep 27, 2018 08:45pm

Looks like Junaid got no reference.

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Shakeel Ahmed

Sep 27, 2018 08:49pm

Very sad. This great bowler reminds me of Irfan Pathan of India. Great potential but fizzled out. Most likely due to lack of that extra yard of speed which he had when he began his career.

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khan

Sep 27, 2018 08:54pm

Give IK some time. He will fix it.

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John

Sep 27, 2018 08:55pm

I am sure, Australia must have seen video tapes of Asia Cup to spot Pakistan's weak points. Not sure if Pakistan will have a home advantage any more. All Asian teams have demonstrated how to tackle Pakistan in their home ground.

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Arshad patel

Sep 27, 2018 09:02pm

That's an Error; PCB should fire Inzamam, and English coach!

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Ali

Sep 27, 2018 09:03pm

No fawad alam again!

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Zaheer

Sep 27, 2018 09:06pm

Fawad Alam missing again after scoring his 29th century and completing 11,000 first class runs recently?

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Wajih

Sep 27, 2018 09:12pm

What Wahb has done to make this comeback? The reality is Pakistan is not producing quality cricketers, those are capable of handling longer format game

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Kamran

Sep 27, 2018 09:33pm

Wow, again no Fawad Alam. The management will not learn and continue with favoritism over merit.

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Mark

Sep 27, 2018 09:36pm

Abbas is also playing non stop cricket since last 6 months. He should be rested as well. Give chance to Junaid

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citizen

Sep 27, 2018 09:52pm

what a downfall for the world's best bowler..sad..

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Danish

Sep 27, 2018 09:52pm

About time he got dropped - he's been nowhere near a word class bowler anymore. It's a good story to tell of someone making a comeback but that's about it. Babar Azam should have been dropped as well - he is not meant for long format of the game along with Shadab and bring in another specialist spinner in place of him. He is only good for T20s.

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Agnostic

Sep 27, 2018 09:54pm

One out of form selected to replace the other.

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J,Gamble

Sep 27, 2018 10:12pm

It is not a good move to drop Amir.

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Qasim

Sep 27, 2018 10:13pm

Good decision

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Michael

Sep 27, 2018 10:17pm

I think this is a poor decision by PCB. His ability should not have been judged by the Asia Cup, where the Dubai pitches are slow. He is a swing master and has enormous potential in fast and bouncy pitches.

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Imran

Sep 27, 2018 10:27pm

Knee jerk reaction..??? Scapegoat ?? If non performance was criteria then should have started with fakhar zaman..sarfaraz himself..shadab ,usman, babar azam....Mickey aurther?? Failed strategy, bad captaincy...lot remains unanswered. That all will be thrown under the carpet if they win single match....well can't just blame them, whole system is running like that for decades. But we expect "tabdeeli".

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Fez

Sep 27, 2018 10:28pm

Fast becoming irrelevant. Useless bowler who struggled even in English conditions. Mir Hamza fantastic choice, great prospect. But why is Wahab riaz back? On what basis? You are turning cricket fans away.

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Amir Khalil

Sep 27, 2018 10:29pm

Again no Fawad Alam

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Dexter

Sep 27, 2018 10:34pm

He is a world class bowler, please don't do this, show some faith in him.

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Sarfaraz Ahmed

Sep 27, 2018 10:42pm

Junaid Khan would have been a better choice than Wahab Riaz. Also don’t understand the logic of having Shan Masood in the Asia Cup squad and dropping him from tests without giving him a game in Asia Cup. Isn’t he more suited to test cricket ? If he were to have been selected based on domestic performances then Test team would have been a better option and move Azhar back to number 3 where he has excelled.

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Amit

Sep 27, 2018 10:47pm

Pathetic decision.

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Sep 27, 2018 10:50pm

Let him take some rest and recollect his energies to be ready for the New Zealand series in UAE following the Australian series.

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Ashfaq

Sep 27, 2018 10:54pm

Please don't drip Amir. I want see him bowling on the fast pitch.

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Adnan Mazher Khan

Sep 27, 2018 10:55pm

Perfect decision to drop Aamir. Is there any justification not to select Fawad Alam?

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MNKhan

Sep 27, 2018 11:08pm

No Fawad Alam no junaid khan again !!!! Shame on Inzamam

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amir

Sep 27, 2018 11:18pm

wrong decision. is it his fault that he is unaable to take wickets when his team mates keep dropping his catches? the person who needs rest is Sarfaraz

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Manzoor

Sep 27, 2018 11:19pm

Almost the whole team played in Asia Cup is out formed then why only Amir? Please dont,t make anybody scapegoat.I think the present management should also take the responsibility for their constant failure to offer a proper ODI team after so long.Once you hiding the real issue of the shameful defeats, you never improved.

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Imran A.

Sep 27, 2018 11:31pm

Bad decision

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Dawn

Sep 27, 2018 11:38pm

Yes Amir is not performing but, Wahab?? PCB will regret.

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azad

Sep 27, 2018 11:42pm

No learning from past!!! Just dropping Amir isnt enough...what about batsmen?

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jay

Sep 27, 2018 11:52pm

what nonsence. Wahab is the worst bowler ever.

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Zeeshandxb

Sep 28, 2018 12:11am

Im telling you get fawad alam in.

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Sarah

Sep 28, 2018 12:38am

Why no Hafeez and Imaad Wasim in team? This is utter nonsense.

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Anon

Sep 28, 2018 12:47am

Good, give others a chance to prove themselves. Having said that, i believe Amir will be back stronger.

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SK9595

Sep 28, 2018 12:56am

Faheem Ashraf - what is he good for? mediocre at his best - they need to get rid of him first. Parchi player.

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Shehzada Rana

Sep 28, 2018 01:05am

Wahab was already dropped 4-5 times. This is the main reason of our players worst showing in the matches.

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Karachi Wala

Sep 28, 2018 01:11am

Does anyone know whereabouts of Fawad Alam? Particularly when middle order is going through challenging time, Alam can be very useful. But one may have to sacrifice Naphews and sons.

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Amir

Sep 28, 2018 01:56am

No Junaid khan?

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Pakistani

Sep 28, 2018 02:06am

Two bad decisions. AAMIR out and Wahab in. Is Junaid Khan in? If not it will the third one. Wake-up Inzi!!!

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Murtaza M

Sep 28, 2018 02:09am

Wow...one day a hero another zero...these conditions actually suit him rather than uae. What is pcb doing !!!

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JagoPakistan

Sep 28, 2018 02:13am

They are just wasting Junaid khan

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Ijaz

Sep 28, 2018 02:51am

If you are going to drop Aamir, at least pick an exciting newcomer with potential not a 33 year old has been.

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bade miya

Sep 28, 2018 03:00am

bad decision

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Ravian

Sep 28, 2018 03:32am

This looks like a very weak team. It will loose the series.

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Faisal

Sep 28, 2018 03:57am

if we need run a ball batsman then why not Fawad Alam who has proven himself to be stable.

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Ganges Khan

Sep 28, 2018 04:23am

bad decision,just another marvel of brilliance by Inzamam and his parch culture,Amir is world class and always will,W Riaz a total looser ,sorry will loose again.Iam rooting for Australia.

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Ali Khan

Sep 28, 2018 05:10am

I am glad he is dropped but not happy that Wahab is back. Amir can’t continue to play just on talent. Not sure how professional and regimented he is in his exercise and practice routine? I also feel that the team can certainly use a motivational speaker and a physiologist to beef their moral. After all they are professional players who happen to play like amateurs

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Shabbir Afridi

Sep 28, 2018 05:54am

where is Shaheen Afridi?

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sharat pandya

Sep 28, 2018 05:55am

Are we judging Amir based on dubais dud pitches?

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Junaid

Sep 28, 2018 06:09am

Rediculous. Yes he is out of form but Australian pitches are paradise for fast bowlers unlike UAE pitches. Yes bumrah bowled well in UAE but spinners dominated. With world cup around the corner Australia tour is the major tour before the big tournament.

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Zulfi

Sep 28, 2018 06:16am

Another shocking decision by the selectors, a knee jerk reaction. Agreed Amir has been struggling in the ODIs of late but how is ODI performance relevant to test selection...two completely different formats. Likewise PSL performance is relevant to T20 but not necessarily ODIs (where you need players who can score quickly but also know how to construct an innings esp. in the middle overs). The selectors blundered by selecting players who had done well in PSL (rather than looking at List A performances of players) in Asia Cup squad

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Aravind

Sep 28, 2018 06:28am

Shocking. Such a great bowler is simply dropped!!

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Muslim Medina

Sep 28, 2018 06:33am

Why Fakhr Zaman has been included in spite oh his poor showing in recent matches? He should have been dropped like Aamir.

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WIN PAKISTAN

Sep 28, 2018 06:42am

@Manzoor i think its more for him to get a break

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A.Rehman

Sep 28, 2018 06:42am

Its really shocking to see Wahab Riaz in the team. I can't understand why selectors are trying him again & again when it is proved that he is not a world class bowler. He always try to take wickets with short pitch delivery. Unles and until if doesn't bowl delivery with in stump he will never become world class bowler. He should learn from Junaid Khan how he bowled in last match. If he will continue bowling as his old fashion he will be just making himself to go out of team again.

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Saad Khan

Sep 28, 2018 07:13am

@Anti-Corruption_Pakistani yasir shah is not exactly a young player. Not everyone is a sifarshi unlike the pcb chairman

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Talha

Sep 28, 2018 07:48am

Bring back Fawad Alam.

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Siddiq

Sep 28, 2018 07:54am

Sarfaraz is an immature captain. He was able to win champions trophy because of Amir and Fakhar. It is a big mistake to drop Amir, this will not be good for his confidence. Captains like Sarfaraz is not a new thing in Pak cric. Check his economy rate, if he was not taking a wicket but that led others to capitalize.

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AXH

Sep 28, 2018 08:09am

If you do not perform, you have no place in the team.

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skz

Sep 28, 2018 08:17am

@Rahul You are right. We need to select a selection committee first who can then select the team.

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Dr Rulaiiya Ali musibat

Sep 28, 2018 08:20am

We should rather select Wasim Akram and Waqar younis as they are still better than those in this team

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Ameer maskhra

Sep 28, 2018 08:35am

He started as a truly great talent finished as a wasted talent if Pakistan wants to save him they need to send him abroad to be seen by a sports psychologist who specializes in treating loss of confidence cases.

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Hello123

Sep 28, 2018 08:38am

No use taking him on flat pitches. You will only waste him. You need fast paced work horses for the UAE pitches

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Hashim

Sep 28, 2018 08:45am

Should have kept Shaheen Afridi in the side instead of selecting Wahab Riaz. No point in selecting Faheem Ashraf in the test side. A specialist spinner or batsman could have been a better option.

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Sep 28, 2018 10:12am

Australia is struggling without Smith and Warner - will appreciate this kind gesture from PCB to field such a weak side so Aus rating do not go down too much during the rebuilding phase.

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Khawar Khan

Sep 28, 2018 10:14am

@Ghalib See his record in international cricket before commenting .

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Shahbaz Ahmed Tarrar

Sep 28, 2018 10:43am

Asif Ali as an opener in ODIs... What do u think guys???

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Atif

Sep 28, 2018 03:20pm

@Amjad what is wrong with Imam ul Haq? He was the only one who showed solid temperament in Asia cup. That is required in test cricket

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Atif

Sep 28, 2018 03:25pm

@Junaid aussies are touring UAE not the other way round.

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Fez

Sep 28, 2018 03:31pm

@Manzoor amir is the weak link in the team and so is wahab riaz.

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Omar

Sep 28, 2018 03:34pm

@Siddiq the champions trophy was won largely thanks to Junaid Khan, who hit the ground running from the second match of the tournament and then averaged 2-3 wickets per game. Amir was only effective in English conditions and even there is average. In the final india had a big chase and took their chances against him. that does not mean he is a skilled bowler. its good he has been shown the door, his performances away from swinging conditions show he cant get a single wicket. keep him out.

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Muscle MAN

Sep 30, 2018 01:22am

Pakistan has never selected team on talent since the time of Imran Khan, some team members wanted Amir out they have been persistently dropping his catches in the end he just gave up, the seen and hidden faces have finally got their wishes granted, another extremely talented Pakistan leg-spinner Usman Qadir was accepted with open arms by Australia and seeing his recent 7 wickets for i believe for western Australia, i believe he will be on par if not better then his father, we are forcing our best talents to go abroad i believe this has become the sad reality of our cricket system.

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fairplay

Sep 30, 2018 03:53am

@Amjad please stop with such negative comments, Imam is performing better than most new players.

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fairplay

Sep 30, 2018 03:55am

@khan lets fix things we can ourselves, expecting the PM to fix team selection isnt appropriate.

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fairplay

Sep 30, 2018 03:56am

@Sid he seems to have lost his mojo and his pace is down.

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fairplay

Sep 30, 2018 03:58am

@M. Saeed agree

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fairplay

Sep 30, 2018 03:58am

@Ghalib agree

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fairplay

Sep 30, 2018 04:00am

@SYED A BOKHARI fakhar played like Shahid Afridi, irresponsible asia cup batting display.

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fairplay

Sep 30, 2018 04:03am

@Imran fair comment.

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fairplay

Sep 30, 2018 04:07am

@Manzoor agree

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fairplay

Sep 30, 2018 04:09am

@Michael agree

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azaad

Sep 30, 2018 12:19pm

Amir, still has potential. He needs this tour to find his winning ways

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