Pakistan captain Babar Azam has turned down the chairman of selectors Mohammad Wasim's suggestion to play specialist opener, Shan Masood, as a middle-order batter for the West Indies series amid the reports of differences between the two players.

Wasim revealed in an interview on a YouTube channel that he was in contact with Shan, who has been batting exceptionally well in the English county tournament and Vitality T20 blast matches.

The chief selector had discussed with Shan the potential of putting him in the middle order in white-ball formats as the competition for the opening berths in the Pakistan team was stiff.

“I have told Shan that he should now try to bat in the middle order so that we have evidence he can make the change for us,” Wasim said. 

However, when the media questioned Babar, he stated categorically that this would not happen.

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Shan's inclusion in the side as a middle-order batter, according to the Pakistan skipper, would be unfair to the left-hander as well as the other players competing for the middle-order spots. 

“Shan Masood bats at the top of the order and he has not batted lower down the order. I think it would be unfair with Shan to play him at Nos 5 or 6. We have an eye on him and he will be considered taking the balance of the side into account,” Babar said in Lahore.

Shan, 32, was named in Pakistan's Test team for the last home series against Australia but did not play. However, his limited-overs form in domestic cricket, the PSL, and now in England has been solid.

Wasim and head coach Saqlain Mushtaq were also accused of surrendering to Babar and other senior players after they refused to take a break from the ODI series against the West Indies. Despite Wasim's denials, rumor has it that Babar did not agree with selectors and coaches on resting key players while giving fringe players a chance against the West Indies.

While speaking to the media, Babar also dismissed suggestions about giving the wicketkeeper-batter Muhammad Haris a chance against the West Indies in the three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) in Multan next week.

“It is too early to give him a chance. Rizwan has not been performing as expected in ODIs but he is still adding value at his position. Our combination is balanced and I have full faith in Rizwan as I will always have his back,” Azam said.

(PTI INPUTS)