Misbah-ul-Haq has criticised the Pakistan management for not selecting an extra spinner in the squad to face England.
Speaking at the toss ahead of the first Test against England at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, Misbah said: “I think it’s a mismanagement and we’re really disappointed by this.”
Misbah was speaking in response to the news that Yasir Shah, the legspinner, would not be taking part in the Test, after he pulled up with a back injury in training the day before the Test.
His absence forced Pakistan to select three fast bowlers and just the single specialist spinner in their XI. They had only picked two spinners – the left-arm Zulfiqar Babar is the other – in the squad, though at one stage had left a place open for either Zafar Gohar or Mohammad Asghar.
After the Zimbabwe ODI series, the offspinner Bilal Asif came into contention, though as he was reported for a suspected illegal action, he was not considered.
Misbah, it is believed, wanted three fast bowlers in the original squad, and not four as they ultimately went with. Junaid Khan, who has been in indifferent form over the last six months but is in the squad, would likely have missed out if Pakistan picked a third spinner.
When there was an opportunity to pick a 16th player, however, Pakistan chose to select the all-rounder Shoaib Malik.
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