Pakistan have been forced to make a late change to their Asian Games cricket squad after fast bowler Salman Mirza was ruled out of the tournament with a finger injury.
Mirza’s withdrawal comes shortly before Pakistan begin their campaign and removes one of the pace options originally included in the squad. Mohammad Wasim Junior has been called up as his replacement, giving the pacer an opportunity to return to the national set-up after several months away.
Wasim last played an international T20 for Pakistan in January. He subsequently spent several months outside the national side, making his selection for the Asian Games an important opportunity to return to international cricket. His inclusion also provides Pakistan with another pace-bowling option as they prepare for the knockout stage.
Pakistan have named a youthful 15-member squad for the tournament, with opening batter Sahibzada Farhan appointed captain. The composition of the side reflects a clear focus on emerging players, several of whom are yet to make their senior international debuts.
Aqib Javed, Ali Raza, Maaz Sadaqat and Saad Masood are among the players awaiting their first appearance in international cricket. For them, the Asian Games will provide an opportunity to gain experience in a competitive tournament while making a case for greater involvement in Pakistan’s wider national set-up.
The responsibility of leading such a young group will rest with Farhan. As an opening batter, he will have a role with the bat as well as the additional demands that come with captaining a relatively inexperienced squad.
Pakistan are scheduled to begin their Asian Games campaign with a quarter-final match next Monday. Their opponent for the last-eight fixture has not yet been confirmed. The team will therefore have to wait for the final qualification picture before tailoring its preparation to a particular opponent.
Pakistan’s record in Asian Games cricket has been relatively modest. Their only medal in the competition came in 2010, when they defeated Sri Lanka to claim bronze.
They have since missed out on the podium on two occasions. In 2014, Pakistan lost the bronze-medal match to Bangladesh. The same outcome followed at the most recent edition, when Bangladesh again defeated them in the contest for third place.
Those results provide the background to Pakistan’s latest campaign, although the current squad has a different look, with several young players given the chance to make an impression. The tournament could prove particularly valuable for those yet to play international cricket, as well as for Wasim, who is returning after a lengthy absence from the national side.
Mirza’s injury has disrupted Pakistan’s plans before their first match, but Wasim’s inclusion ensures that the squad retains an international-level pace option. His ability to settle quickly and contribute with the ball could be significant as Pakistan enter the knockout phase.
With the quarter-final approaching, attention will now turn to how Farhan’s young side responds to the pressure of a major tournament. For several members of the squad, the Asian Games could mark an important step in their international careers.
