Fans lambast Wahab Riaz, Shaheen Afridi for dropping M Haris from T20 series against New Zealand

Cricket enthusiasts are fulminating against Chief Selector Wahab Riaz and T20 International Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi for omitting 22-year-old batter Mohammad Haris from the national squad for the upcoming T20 series against New Zealand.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday unveiled the squad for the upcoming T20 series against the Kiwis, which is slated to be played in January next year.

In a press conference on Tuesday, Wahab Riaz maintained that Mohamamd Haris has been rested while naming the players for T20I squad which include, Aamir Jamal, Abbas Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan (wk), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hassebullah (wk), Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohamamd Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jr, Sahibzada Farhan Saim Ayub, Usama, Mir Zaman Khan.  

During a press conference, Wahab Riaz stated that Mohammad Haris has been rested while announcing the T20I squad, which includes Aamir Jamal, Abbas Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan (wk), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (wk), Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Usama Mir and Zaman Khan.

Following the announcement, Pakistani cricket fans quickly turned to 'X' to express their astonishment at the exclusion of Mohammad Haris, who boasts a considerably better batting record in T20Is compared to other players

Dropping Haris is a crazy decision.

He has a PSL Strike Rate of 180+. One of the BEST in PSL history.

Have selection committee forgot what he did at the T20 World Cup?

Whilst our senior players Babar and Rizwan failed continuously, it was young Haris who stepped up.#PAKvNZ pic.twitter.com/f9R4ebtOwz

— Haroon (@hazharoon) December 19, 2023

Cricket statistician Mazher Arshad criticised the decision to rest the talented player as unjustified, stating, “In the last two years, 325 batters in the world have scored 500 runs in T20s. There is no one from Pakistan in the Top 49 in terms of strike-rate. On 50th place you have Mohammad Haris (SR 151.96), who was also by far the best striker in PSL this year (350 runs at SR 186.17).”

“Surprisingly, he has been dropped from Pakistan's T20I squad for NZ tour. If he is rested, it's an even bigger surprise cos you don't rest a 22 yo boy who plays in one format only,” he added. 

In the last two years, 325 batters in the world have scored 500 runs in T20s. There is no one from Pakistan in Top 49 in terms of strike-rate. On 50th place you have Mohammad Haris (SR 151.96), who was also by far the best striker in PSL this year (350 runs at SR 186.17).…

— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) December 19, 2023

Others urged to utilise young talent rather than letting it go to waste.

You just can't drop 21 years old Muhammad Haris from the format he is absolute best at and giving excuses that he needs rest while he only plays this format for us. They dropped him like he is some kinda senior guy. You included Azam , Fakhar and Farhan but not him. Shame. pic.twitter.com/NeTN6YDIKr

— Asad Abdullah (@asad_qureshi257) December 19, 2023

Cricket fans raised questions about the seemingly 'illogical' decision, placing responsibility on Wahab Riaz and Shaheen Afridi.

Wahab saying we rested Haris when he only plays one format. He is just another small man in a big office.

— Khayam (@KhayamSays) December 19, 2023

Numerous social media users are sharing a viral video clip, which shows Mohammad Haris hitting back-to-back boundaries against Shaheen Afridi's aggressive bowling in a PSL match between Lahore Qalandars and Peshawar Zalmi.

Reason why Moh Haris got Dropped pic.twitter.com/Y7J5qKXlPv

— Babar Khan (@Babaristic) December 19, 2023