The World Cup squad selected by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) included a few snubs and some surprises as well.

Fawad Alam, a regular performer throughout last year, was dropped to pave way for nobody knows who.

Today, however, the surprises have gone too far.

Rahat Ali has been called in to replace injured Junaid Khan. Rahat played his only one-day international two years back in 2012 against Sri Lanka; and has frequently failed to make it to the ODI team.

One must ask the board:

When a player did not even qualify for a spot on the regular ODI squad, how was he pronounced the best choice to replace Junaid, who was the linchpin in a largely toothless pace attack?

 

Such decisions not only discourage merit but raise suspicions in the dressing room.

The recent New Zealand series has already exposed Pakistan’s dull bowling attack.