Inzamam reveals Pakistan’s ‘surprise package’ for World Cup 2019

Pakistan cricket chief selector Inzamam ul Haq has called the inclusion of young speedster Mohammad Hasnain in the World Cup 2019 squad as the ‘surprise package’ of his side.   

“A surprise package should be there, some people told me that Abid Ali has played only two matches while Hasnain too has played few games. So I thought about the 1992 World Cup, I had myself played six to seven matches, Zahid Fazal had played eight to 10 matches, then there were Iqbal Sikander, Wasim Haider, and Amir Sohail was also inexperienced, so it is all about the combination,” said Inzamam, while talking to local media.

The chief selector was of the view that the bowling unit of Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Faheem Ashraf and Junaid Khan bowls at similar speeds, so the addition of an express pace bowler such as Hasnain could make a difference and add variety.

Reminiscing Pakistan’s famous 1992 World Cup campaign, Inzamam revealed how the then skipper Imran Khan raised his confidence despite his lacklustre showing in the early going of the tournament.

“Imran Khan never let me think less of myself even though I was not scoring that well at the beginning stage of the World Cup. In every game he would raise my confidence by saying that I was Pakistan's main player and I had to score big," said Inzamam.

The Pakistan cricket team is present in England and is scheduled to play three warm up games against Kent, Northamptonshire and Leicestershire, before facing hosts England in a five-match One-Day International series and a Twenty20.