Pakistan’s chief selector, Haroon Rashid, has identified three promising young cricketers who have caught the attention of Pakistani cricket authorities.
After performing consistently over the past two years and the recent Pakistan Shaheen tour of Zimbabwe, Mohammad Huraira and Amer Jamal have received their first Test call-ups for the upcoming two-match series against Sri Lanka in July.
Omair Yousuf, the 24-year-old batsman, had an outstanding dismissal in Pakistan Shaheen’s tour of Zimbabwe. He topped the batting charts with 348 runs in three innings, including his highest first-class score of 250 not out in the first four-day match. However, he was dropped from selection for the said tour.
Speaking to Cricket Pakistan about the importance of domestic cricket and the need to recognize its value, Rashid expressed his optimism about the future of Pakistani cricket and the potential contribution of these talented youngsters.
“If you don’t respect your domestic cricket, it’s of no significant use. That’s why we have tried to arrange as many junior tours as possible. So that we can better see and evaluate their performance in foreign situations other than domestic. Only conditions. So that’s it. We have seen Muhammad Hurairah, Amer Jamal and Omair [bin Yousaf] All deliver outstanding performance for two to three years,” said Rashed.
“Huraira has been performing for two to three years, while Omair has emerged in the last one year, which is a very good sign indeed. We hope that these two players or any other players who may not make it to the Pakistan team, we will definitely see them in action at Pakistan Shaheens.”
The chief selector expressed gratitude for having such a talented group of young players at his disposal. With an average age of 27 to 28 years, Rashed believes that if this squad stays fit and continues to perform consistently, it has the potential to form a strong unit in the coming years.
“In my opinion, we are very lucky to have this amazing lot. Their average age is around 27 to 28 years, so if this squad stays fit for the next four to six years and continues to perform consistently, it could turn into a formidable unit at the next stage. Still, I see a bright future for the Pakistan cricket team. Most importantly, the kind of measures we are taking, I am sure it will yield great results for us,” he added.
