The Pakistan skipper Babar Azam has finally spoken upon the inclusion of tainted opening batsman Sharjeel Khan in the national T20I side for the South Africa tour. The talk though is centred on the latter’s fitness instead of his match-fixing past.
Speaking on the rumours doing the rounds that it was Azam who wanted Sharjeel in the side specifically, the 26-year-old skipper said, “The rumours doing the rounds about team selection ... in my opinion, these matters of meetings are better left inside the meeting. When they are brought out, it's not good.”
Saying that it is not a personal call to include a player but one taken on the basis of the team’s requirement, Azam added, "This is not my team, this is our team and it's my responsibility to take the team forward. I understand the goal of selection. The endeavour is to get the best players and I welcome all the new inclusions."
Azam, who has captained Pakistan for the last 18 months, feels that ‘Sharjeel can't become a Shadab Khan suddenly’, but that does not mean that he can’t be a part of the side.
Singing praises of Sharjeel’s blistering form at display in the recently concluded PSL, Babar said, “We have to carry him. I agree his fitness might not be there yet. But the way he is playing, his form, he can help us. I've played with him in Karachi Kings too. He's one of the best players, he can totally change the game. Yes, he is working on his fitness.”
"I'll repeat that he's a match-winner and his fielding is not an issue. He's part of the team and if we back him, it will be beneficial for us," Babar added about the 31-year-old who has played 15 T20Is and 25 ODIs for Pakistan so far. Sharjeel scored 200 runs in five innings in the recently postponed PSL.