The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) unveiled the 18 players squad slated to face Ireland from May 10-14 and England from May 22-30 during their upcoming tour of the UK.
This decision follows the appointment of Gary Kirsten from South Africa and Jason Gillespie from Australia as the head coaches for the men’s national team for white and red-ball cricket respectively, with Azhar Mahmood serving as the assistant coach across all formats.
Injuries sustained last month by wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan, Azam Khan, and Muhammad Irfan Khan against New Zealand haven’t kept them out of contention, as they’ve been included in the squad.
However, wrist spinner Usama Mir and fast bowler Zaman Khan, both of whom played in the recent T20I series against New Zealand, didn’t make the final squad.
Selector Wahab Riaz expressed hope that fitness concerns with certain players will be resolved during the England tour, allowing for the finalization of the World Cup squad.
The PCB announced that the squad for the forthcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup will be reduced to 15 players, to be announced following the first T20I with England before the May 24 deadline set by the ICC.
Crafting the squad was described as a challenging task due to the wealth of talent available, according to the selection committee consisting of Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Yousuf, Asad Shafique, and Abdul Razzaq.
The squad features a robust top-order with Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, and Rizwan, along with a formidable pace-batting side led by Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris, and Hasan.
The inclusion of Salman Ali Agha is highlighted for bolstering Pakistan’s spin bowling attack alongside Imad Wasim and Shadab Khan.
Hasan Ali’s selection is attributed to his extensive experience, particularly his recent performances in the Pakistan Super League and his stint with Warwickshire in the English County Championship.
Regarding the recent T20I series against New Zealand, the PCB clarified that injuries sidelined Haris and Azam, while Irfan and Rizwan were rested due to minor injuries.
The squad is set to depart for Dublin on May 7 following a three-day training camp in Lahore from May 4-6, with matches scheduled against Ireland and England in May.
The squad includes: Babar Azam (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Agha Salman, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Usman Khan.
