"Opposition doesn't even think him as a bowlers"- Ex-Pak pacer's bizarre claim on Indian pacer selected for T20 WC

The Indian cricket team announced their 15-member squad on September 12. Apart from a few players, all the teams were the same that played in the Asia Cup. Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel made their comebacks after their injuries. But just like in the Asia Cup, India didn't pick Mohammed Shami in the squad.

India has gone with a four-pace bowling attack, including Bumrah, Harshal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Arshdeep Singh. However, Shami and Deepak Chahar are in the reserves and can replace their four bowlers in case of an injury. Thus, the inclusion of Arshdeep in place of Shami raised many eyebrows.

Even in the other part of the border, former Pakistan pacer, Aaqib Javed, termed Arshdeep as a "basic bowler". He also stated that the left-armer lacks the impact that he should have to play in a major tournament like the World Cup.

Aaqib also reckons that the opposition team doesn't take such bowlers more seriously. Speaking of Arshdeep's career so far, the left-armer made his debut in July and has played a total of 11 T20Is so far. He has taken 14 wickets at an economy rate of 7.38 with a best figure of 3/12.

In the recently concluded Asia Cup, he was the second-choice bowler in the team after Bhuvneswar, in the absence of Bumrah and Harshal. He had a rather mixed experience in the tournament, in which India couldn't make it to the finals.

In an interview with Paktv.tv, Aaqib said, "He's a basic bowler. In T20s, you either need a bowler like Bhuvneshwar Kumar who can swing the ball, or you should have pace. Bowlers like Arshdeep are 'just bowlers'. They don't have a trademark and the opposition doesn't even think about such bowlers."

In the match against Pakistan in "super four", Arshdeep dropped an easy catch of Asif Ali in the crunch situation, which proved to be costly for India and they lost the match, which gathered a lot of criticism against the left-armer on social media. Although, later, he bowled some tough overs brilliantly.