By Zainab Shafiq 
As the T20 World Cup 2024 approaches, starting on June 1st, cricket enthusiasts are buzzing with excitement. All participating teams, except Pakistan, have revealed their squads, sparking discussions about the balance of each team and the surprising inclusions and omissions.
While some squads appear perfectly balanced, others have made shocking decisions, leaving certain key players as traveling reserves rather than main squad members.
In this article, we will take a closer look at three reserved players who should have been included in the main squad instead of being traveling reserves.
These Reserved Players Should Have Been in the Main Squad
1) Shubman Gill (India)
Shubman Gill has had an impressive IPL 2024 season, scoring 426 runs from 12 innings at an average of 38.72. Despite his outstanding performance, the selectors opted for Yashaswi Jaiswal as Rohit Sharma’s opening partner, with Virat Kohli slated to bat at number three. The Indian top order is undoubtedly filled with talent, and someone had to miss out.
Unfortunately for Gill, his recent T20I form, scoring just 133 runs in his last eight matches, may have influenced the selectors’ decision to exclude him from the main squad. However, Gill’s consistent IPL performance indicates that he has the potential to make a significant impact, and many believe he should have been included in the primary lineup.
2) Jake Fraser-McGurk (Australia)
Australia’s young and talented batter Jake Fraser-McGurk has shown remarkable form in the IPL 2024, amassing 330 runs from nine innings for the Delhi Capitals at an average of 36.66. Known for his hard-hitting abilities, Fraser-McGurk could have been a major threat to opponents in the World Cup. Despite this, the selectors opted for experience over youth, choosing to keep Fraser-McGurk as one of the reserved players.
Chief selector George Bailey acknowledged how close Fraser-McGurk was to making the main squad, stating, “His form’s been great of late, and that’s fantastic. But the way we’re functioning on top of the order with the three guys (David Warner, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh) we’ve had there has been really strong as well.” Although experience often trumps youth in selection decisions, Fraser-McGurk’s current form suggests he could have added significant value to the main squad.
3) Hazratullah Zazai (Afghanistan)
Hazratullah Zazai, known for his explosive batting, has scored 1138 runs in T20Is from 42 innings. However, his recent form has been underwhelming, with his highest score being 45 in the last 10 innings. Despite his potential to deliver big scores, the Afghan selectors preferred Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran as their opening options for the World Cup.
Zazai’s ability to turn a game on its head with his aggressive batting style makes him a valuable asset. Many fans and analysts believe that his inclusion in the main squad would have strengthened Afghanistan’s batting lineup significantly.
The selection of squads for major tournaments like the T20 World Cup is always a challenging task, with selectors having to make tough decisions. While Shubman Gill, Jake Fraser-McGurk, and Hazratullah Zazai have been relegated to traveling reserves, their overall T20I performances and potential impact suggest they deserved spots in the main squad.
As the World Cup unfolds, it will be interesting to see if these decisions pay off or if the selectors’ choices are brought into question. Regardless, the anticipation and excitement for the T20 World Cup 2024 remain high as fans eagerly await the start of the tournament.
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Fraser-McGurk to fly with Australia for World Cup 2024