LAHORE, (DNA) – Chief selector of Pakistan cricket board (PCB) Inzamam Ul Haq in his interview with a leading cricket website told that Sarfaraz Ahmed might be rested for the ODI series against Australia, meanwhile all-rounder Shoaib Malik will lead Pakistan in his absence.

Inzamam also told that Umar Akmal may get a recall as the panel looked for a replacement of Mohammad Hafeez, who recently got injured during Pakistan Super League.

“This is my idea to rest Sarfaraz and a few others. Our players have been playing for quite a long time. I don’t think players should play for that long. So I am resting those who are under a lot of stress from last five months and playing in all three formats,” he said.

“If you enter in any event, I have a strong belief that you should go [in] with fresh legs, fresh minds, instead of having injuries like stiff backs, shoulder injury, elbow problem or hamstring injury.

I don’t think we should enter into such a big tournament like this. We have to enter in the tournament with players who are 100 per cent fit and fresh both physically and mentally.

Within two months of time, starting from England series, we have to play around 20 to 21 games and it will be a hectic outing to England including practice matches,” Inzamam told.

Moreover, spin sensation Shadab Khan will also be given some rest before the World Cup.

Inzamam also showed concerns over fast-bowler Mohammad Amir’s performance, who has picked up only five wickets in 13 ODIs – averaging 80.80 – since the start of January 2018.

“Amir might not be an automatic selection at this stage but he is a very good bowler and there is no doubt it,” Inzamam said. “Unfortunately, he is not looking in his best form. He has enough time for the World Cup, he will be back in the rhythm.

“If a senior bowler like him looks out of form, off-colour, it’s a worry for us, but we still have time for Amir. We still have ten one-dayers and two-three months. Amir can make a comeback. We will give him a full chance to make a comeback. He is a big-occasion bowler and we need to have a bowler like him in our armoury.”