Haris replaces Akmal in Champions Trophy squad

KARACHI: In December last year, there were reports that Haris Sohail’s international career was facing a tragic end because of a serious knee injury.

Many believed that the middle-order batsman, who had made a sparkling start to his ODI career in 2014, was old news following reports which suggested that his knee surgery was unsuccessful.

But six months later, the left-hander is back in Pakistan’s One-day International squad and will be representing the country in next month’s ICC Champions Trophy to be held in England and Wales from June 1-18.

Haris was on Tuesday picked as replacement for Umar Akmal, who was axed from Pakistan’s Champions Trophy squad because of poor fitness.

“The national selection committee headed by Inzamam-ul-Haq had called Umar Amin, Haris Sohail and Asif Zakir for fitness test today at National Cricket Academy to replace Umar Akmal who had earlier failed to pass the fitness test in the pre-camp for Champions Trophy in Birmingham, England. Umar Akmal has been told to return home to work on his fitness,” a statement issued by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said.

“The NCA trainer conducted the test of all three players and based on the reports submitted by the trainer and upon Pakistan’s team management request Haris Sohail has been selected to replace Umar Akmal for the Champions Trophy,” it added.

The Sialkot-born Haris last played for Pakistan in May 2015, scoring an unbeaten 52 in the national team’s win over Zimbabwe in Lahore. He is expected to join the squad before the side’s warm-up game against Bangladesh on Saturday.

His selection marks a welcome return for Sohail, who had started his ODI career brightly. In just his fourth international innings, Sohail had scored an unbeaten 85 to steer Pakistan home in a tense finish against New Zealand in Dubai. His consistency was perhaps the most eye-catching feature about his batting; in 21 ODI innings, he failed to reach double figures on just four occasions, averaging 43 at a strike-rate of 82.86. However, a serious knee injury derailed his career, and there were even concerns that he might have to give up the game.

Sohail has been prolific in List A cricket recently, having scored two fifties and a century in his last five games. Sohail’s left-arm spin might have also helped his cause for selection at a time when Pakistan’s lack of a proper allrounder is conspicuous.