Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) last week announced the list of 30 probables for the ICC Champions Trophy to be held in England. This is hardly any surprise in 30 players list with the exception of axing experienced Younus Khan sighting his poor performance recently.

If one agrees with the chief selector Iqbal Qasim’s point of view which is to select players solely on their performance then more than half of the announced players are not eligible for the selection.

Nasir Jamshed was a big flop in Tests, ODIs and one-off Twenty20 against South Africa and his performance was also not satisfactory in the recently-concluded Faysal Bank Super Eight T20 Cup in Lahore. The selectors know better, why he was still being given nod for Champions Trophy where seaming deliveries are hard to handle even for the players who had a great foot work. The question is that how can it be possible for Nasir to cope with the swinging deliveries, if he will be included in the final short-listed squad.

Imran Farhat has been given countless opportunities by the selectors, but time and again failed to justify his position in the squad. His powerful connection always did wonders for him and he always managed to occupy a slot in the touring team. Farhat is virtually destroying the careers of many talented players as he can only bat at No 1 or 2. Having the likes of Kamran Akmal, Umar Akmal, M Hafeez and Nasir Jamshed as openers in the squad, there is absolutely no place for Farhat in the playing XI.

There is no sense in dropping a world class player Umar Akmal from the squad as he can play big innings for his team if he will be provided some good chances to flourish and nourish his skills.

Kamran Akmal though a good batsman but he is being wasted by sending in the middle order while he must try as an opener as he can gather some quick runs to boosting his team’s total keeping the board clicking.

The selectors had destroyed the careers of many talented players in past like Azhar Mahmood, who was an automatic selection in any top cricket playing team, but in Pakistan, the selectors never thought about such a talented player who can bat at any given number and can change the whole complexion of the game with his powerful hitting.

Same is the case with Abdul Razzaq, who is very unfortunate to born in this part of the world where talent never gets the due recognition. He has honour to help the country winning many important matches single-handedly but due to personal liking and disliking, the selectors are sabotaging his career. Why such a gifted player, who in seaming conditions of UK, can prove to be a trump card and the dark horse for team is being neglected. Razzaq’s selection must be reconsidered if Pakistan wants to get desired results.

Misbah although scored runs in the domestic circuit and that too unlike of him at a very fast pace, but when it matters most delivering at the international stage, he is too slow and cots Pakistan matches on numerous occasions. It is right time to show the door to Misbah and other aging stars just like the selectors have done with Younus Khan.

Asad Ali, Umar Amin, Zulfiqar Baber had been on recent tours with the national team, but they were not given a single chance while harsh reality is that the PCB didn’t bother to try the most talented and gifted player Umar Akmal. They deserve a better treatment from the selectors and should be considered for the Champions Trophy.

There is hardly any room for the likes of Azhar Ali, Anwar Ali, M Rizwan and Imran Khan as the selectors can’t gamble on these players. Azhar lacks technique required in the fast and seaming tracks just like he struggled in South Africa. Anwar Ali, who was also given chances in the past, failed to muster. Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Ahmed Shahzad, Wahab Riaz, Kamran Akmal have been given too many chances by the selectors. They are very lucky to still intact in the team despite passing well their prime days.

The PCB must include the likes of Hammad Azam, Umar Amin and Junaid Khan who are the future of the country and they have very long and shinning careers ahead as they can be prepared well for upcoming World Cup 2015.

Raza Hassan is also a deserving player who must be in the Champions Trophy squad as he fully qualified for a place in the playing XI. Raza has honour to notch up crucial victories for his teams. He has an extra quality of bowling at the depth overs and not allowing even quality players to run freely on his bowling, but the reasons best known to the selectors who somehow managed to skip Raza Hassan’s name from the initial 30-member squad.

Even though the selectors missed few key players from the initial squad yet they can still hope for the best as some of the selected players can turn the whole complexion of the match with their individual performances, but it depends on the final short-listed players for Champions Trophy. Pakistan can produce better results if the neglected players will be given second thought