Mohammad Rizwan has defended the decision to include only one specialist spinner in the squad for the Champions Trophy 2025.
Abrar Ahmed is the sole specialist spinner in the squad, with Salman Ali Agha and Khushdil Shah serving as part-time spin options.
This choice has been questioned by several former cricketers, especially given the conditions in Pakistan and the UAE.
After a six-wicket defeat to India, Rizwan defended the decision, stating that fielding five specialist bowlers in an ODI is not feasible.
He pointed out that teams like New Zealand and India also rely on part-time spinners to balance their bowling line-ups.
Rizwan expressed confidence in Agha and Shah, describing them as the best available all-rounders for the team.
He explained that opting for two genuine spinners would require sacrificing a bowler or batter, which would disrupt balance.
In the last five ODIs, Khushdil Shah and Agha Salman bowled 58.4 overs, taking just two wickets at an average of 165.00.
This lack of a specialist fifth bowler has left the attack vulnerable, exposing the inability of bowling unit to build pressure in the middle overs.
