Cricket World Cup: South Africa pick Hashim Amla, Aiden Markram; Pakistan, Sri Lanka pull surprises
South Africa kept faith in Hashim Amla and gambled on Aiden Markram for the Cricket World Cup as Sri Lanka and Pakistan took a cut-throat approach to their selection process.
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South Africa kept faith in Hashim Amla and gambled on Aiden Markram as both made the Proteas’ Cricket World Cup squad.
On a day of frenetic selection action for the tournament, which starts on June 1, that included some stunning omissions for both the Sri Lanka and Pakistan squads, South Africa stood solid with 36-year-old veteran Amla despite a dip in form and his absence for recent games because his father was ill.
Fellow batsman Markram was seemingly out of the reckoning for the one-day team until a run of outstanding domestic form led to a public clamor to include the 24-year-old opener.
This year will likely be the last chance for Amla, Faf du Plessis, who captains the team, and Dale Steyn to win the World Cup. JP Duminy and Imran Tahir have already said they will retire from ODIs after the tournament. Those five will be playing at their third World Cup.
The most noticeable absentees are batsman Reeza Hendricks and all-rounder Chris Morris.
Instead of the young Hendricks, a regular this past season, South Africa stuck with Amla, who last played an ODI in late January. He still averages nearly 50 in one-dayers.
Andile Phehlukwayo and Dwaine Pretorius were given the allrounder slots ahead of Morris.
Fast bowler Anrich Nortje made the cut with just four ODIs of experience and after making his debut last month.
Squad: Faf du Plessis (captain), Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock, JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Dale Steyn, Rassie van der Dussen.
Meanwhile, Pakistan selectors left out pace spearhead Mohammad Amir from the preliminary 15-man squad.
The 27-year-old has been in wretched form since guiding Pakistan to win over India in the Champions trophy final in June 2017, with just four wickets in 14 matches.
But the left-arm fast bowler, who missed the 2011 and 2015 World Cup due to a five-year ban on match fixing imposed in 2010, has a lifeline as teams can be changed until May 23 -- seven days before the ten-team event starts.
Chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq said Amir’s form was concerning.
“Amir had not performed as well as was expected of him,” said Inzamam, who was part of Pakistan’s World Cup winning team in 1992.
Amir is included in the 17-man squad for the five-match one-day series against England from May 5-19, and can regain his World Cup place if he performs well.
Squad: Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abid Ali, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Hafeez (subject to fitness), Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Junaid Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain Two additions for England ODIs: Mohammad Amir and Asif Alish.
Sri Lanka dumped established stars including former captain Dinesh Chandimal in a mass clear-out for the World Cup.
One day after announcing that Test skipper Dimuth Karunaratne would be World Cup captain in place of Lasith Malinga, selectors also axed wicketkeeper-batsman Niroshan Dickwella, off-spinner Akila Dananjaya, and openers Danushka Gunathilaka and Upul Tharanga from the 15-man squad.
Sri Lanka have been riven with personality clashes and disciplinary problems in recent years that have seen their world standing slump.
Batsman Lahiru Thirimanne, leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay and all-rounders Milinda Siriwardana and Jeevan Mendis got places despite not playing an ODI for more than a year.
Squad: Dimuth Karunaratne (capt), Lasith Malinga, Angelo Mathews, Thisara Perera, Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Mendis, Isuru Udana, Milinda Siriwardana, Avishka Fernando, Jeevan Mendis, Lahiru Thirimanne, Jeffrey Vandersay, Nuwan Pradeep, Suranga Lakmalstr
Originally published as Cricket World Cup: South Africa pick Hashim Amla, Aiden Markram; Pakistan, Sri Lanka pull surprises
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