5 Veteran cricketers who have been axed for 2022 T20 World Cup

Well, the eighth edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is now just a month away. The mega event in Australia is all set to host a total of 16 international teams. Alongside the associates, even the full members have announced their squads for the World T20.

However, the personnel selection of many sides this time has been interesting. PAK and WI have snubbed their veterans along with AFG, BAN and ENG taking a punt on youngsters. Only AUS, IND and SA have not made any out-of-the-blue picks.

Therefore in this list, let’s check out 5 veteran cricketers who have been axed for the 2022 T20 World Cup.

Jason Roy

This year’s English summer has been utterly bitter for Jason Roy. Sadly his awful batting form has snubbed him from going to Australia. In his six home T20Is, the 32-year-old has only scored 78 runs at an average of 12.66. Even in The Hundred competition, Roy registered 3 ducks and amassed just 51 runs in six outings. Apparently, the batter also left the competition because of his back stiffness.

However, his omission from the ICC event wasn’t simple by any means. England’s managing director Rob Key responded about Roy’s elimination being the toughest call. Optimistically though the cricketer was supposed to travel for Pakistan T20Is, later the board decided to discard him. Because of the World T20 squad selection deadline nearing, ECB eventually sent its best players.

Though this cricketer could have thrived in the T20Is, Rob Key said it was too late by then. Overall, the English opener whose been almost permanent since 2015 will miss the 2022 World T20. Hopefully, after the ICC event, Roy soon will make a strong comeback in the shortest format.

Andre Russell

This behemoth cricketer’s selection for the T20 World Cup was always ambiguous. Though the WI board and Russell earlier in the year had discussions about his T20I comeback, eventually he’s being discarded. Chief selector Desmond Haynes said about Russell’s omission being done because of his current inconsistent form.

Just before the CPL 2022, Russell was the second highest run-scorer in the 6ixty. The herculean batter had smashed 137 runs in five innings at a towering strike rate of 192.95. But presently for TKR, Russell has just accumulated 78 runs from 7 innings. Apart from being short of runs in CPL 2022, even his strike rate (139.29) has dipped.

Compellingly, even the WI selectors have prioritized in-form players over the irregular ones for the Australia event. That’s why the squad also has the presence of CPL 2022’s highest scorer- Johnson Charles. Nevertheless, for Andre Russell, it will be interesting to see when his next T20I comeback happens.

See Also: IND vs AUS Match Prediction- Who Will Win the Match Between India and Australia, 2nd T20I (cricketwinner.com)

Mahmudullah

Mahmudullah for Bangladesh has been an eminent T20I cricketer. The 36-year-old has scored 2122 runs from record 121 games. For his country, the batter is also the highest-capped player in the shortest format. However, since the last T20 World Cup, Mahmudullah has been malfunctioning in T20Is. Agonizingly his last T20I fifty had also come in the 2021 ICC UAE event.

Also in this calendar year, Mahmudullah from his eight T20I appearances has only scored 151 runs. More importantly, his strike rate has dreadfully fallen to 110.21. But his omission from the upcoming ICC event happened because of his inferior Asia Cup. At the continental event, this veteran amassed only 52 runs at a deficient strike rate of 106.12.

Comprehensively more than runs, Mahmudullah is more needed in the middle-order for his tonking skills. But unfortunately in 2022, the batter’s strike rate has significantly declined.

Overall, the BCB chief selector also revealed a one-year plan that eventually led to Mahmudullah’s axing. In the shortest format, the Tigers are now looking to transition by casting youngsters now.

Sunil Narine

WI’s best T20I spinner is also been excluded from the World T20 event. Even last year, this legendary T20 freelancer didn’t make an appearance in the 2021 World T20. However, his omission unlike Andre Russell hasn’t occurred because of a patchy form.

The WI chief selector Desmond Haynes said that the all-rounder wasn’t much interested to come on board for Australia. Despite even skipper Nicholas Pooran communicating with Narine, the veteran didn’t give any indication about his availability. Also, the other reports made it seem that the spinner was not intending to come back for WI.

Nevertheless, Narine’s T20 form in recent times has been upstanding. For Manchester Originals in The Hundred competition, the bowler scalped 11 wickets from six games. Even in CPL 2022, Narine has bagged 9 wickets at an exceptional economy of 4.89. Interestingly, the Caribbean team’s spin attack for the mega ICC event is slight of inexperienced names.

Samiullah Shinwari

For the Asia Cup 2022, Samiullah Shinwari was called back to the Afghan team. The cricketer before the continental event had last played for Afghanistan in early 2020. His comeback in T20Is happened because of his strong domestic performances in the Shpageeza Cricket League (SCL).

For Boost Defenders in SCL, the 34-year-old scored 202 runs from eight innings at an average of 33.66. However, in the Asia Cup, Shinwari just played a single game. The batter in the middle order also didn’t get the opportunity to exhibit himself. Bitterly after that, Shinwari got axed from the World T20 team.

The selectors for the mega ICC event have taken a punt on youngsters rather than Shinwari. Also, his low batting strike rate discourages the veteran to dwell in the middle order. That’s why just like the last T20 World Cup, Shinwari has been again excluded.