‘Can’t have five genuine bowlers in ODIs’: Rizwan defends Pakistan’s team selection

Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan has defended the decision to include only one specialist spinner in the national team’s squad for the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Abrar Ahmed is the only specialist spinner in Pakistan’s squad, while Salman Ali Agha and Khushdil Shah serve as part-time spin options.

Given the conditions in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), many former cricketers have questioned the decision to include only one specialist spinner in the squad.

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However, after the team’s six-wicket defeat against India yesterday, Mohammad Rizwan defended this choice, stating that a team cannot field five specialist bowlers in an ODI match.

“In ODIs, you can’t have five genuine bowlers. Naseem [Shah], Shaheen [Afridi], Haris [Rauf], Abrar,” he said.

“The fifth, you see New Zealand have [Mitchell] Santner and [Michael] Bracewell, India have [Ravindra] Jadeja and [Axar] Patel.”

The wicket-keeper batter expressed faith in Salman Ali Agha and Khushdil Shah, calling them the best available all-rounders.

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“The best we had, the selectors picked them – Salman Agha and Khushdil Shah. If we go with two genuine spinners, that means we are going with five bowlers and six batters and we can’t make a combo of that,” Rizwan added.

“So yeah, there will be questions about having another spinner, but you can’t go in with five genuine bowlers in an ODI. Maybe in a T20.”

It’s worth noting that the six-wicket loss against India has left Pakistan in a precarious position, leaving their title defence hanging by a thread.

While batting first, Pakistan managed a modest 241 before getting bowled out in the final over. In reply, India cruised to victory with 45 balls to spare, thanks to a masterclass from Virat Kohli, who notched up a brilliant century.

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