The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup a few days ago. However, they received a lot of flak for not picking the right squad as experts and fans claimed that the team looks incapable of beating big teams at the biennial event. Many former Pakistan cricketers like Shoaib Akhtar openly criticized the PCB Chief Selector and expressed disappointment at the team picked. 

Akhtar is one of the many voices that feel that Pakistan won’t even make it to the knockouts with such a squad. However, PCB Chief Selector Muhammad Wasim thinks otherwise and has now come forward to defend the selection by citing past performances of the Pakistan team. Wasim pointed out that this is the same team that beat a million-dollar team like India twice in a year. 

He reminded everyone of the win Pakistan registered against India at the T20 World Cup 2021 and broke the 12-match losing streak. Wasim then pointed out the Super 4 stage win in the recently concluded Asia Cup 2022. 

“India is a billion-dollar team. But we showed last year as well as this year in the Asia Cup that this team is capable of winning and I have complete faith that they will continue to give the fans happiness in the World Cup,” he said.

"I think you need to look at the positives too that we have played the semifinals of the last T20 World Cup and the final of the Asia Cup. So, to completely discard the team on the basis of a couple of bad performances wouldn't be fair."

Notably, Pakistan beat India in the Super 4s of Asia Cup 2022 and qualified for the final. However, they were defeated by Sri Lanka in the summit clash which did not sit well with Pakistani fans. Many also accused the team management of favouritism. And when the T20 World Cup squad was announced, many looked unhappy. Recently retired cricketers like Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Amir openly mocked PCB Selection Committee.