LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Monday named the 16-member squad for the three ODI matches against West Indies, which are scheduled at the Pindi Cricket Stadium on 8, 10 and 12 June.
As the series will not be played in a Managed Event Environment, the selectors have decided to reduce the 21-player squad for the home Australia ODIs to 16 players and those left out of the squad from next month’s matches are Asif Afridi, Asif Ali, Haider Ali and Usman Qadir.
Saud Shakeel was not considered as he is scheduled to undergo a surgery for sinusitis.
Babar Azam will continue to lead the side, while Shadab Khan, who missed the Australia ODIs due to an injury, has returned as vice-captain.
The squad will assemble in Rawalpindi on June 1 for a training camp and Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Rizwan and Shadab Khan, who are presently playing in the English County Championship, will join the squad in time for the practice sessions.
In his comments on the squad, Chief Selector Muhammad Wasim said that the ODIs against the West Indies are part of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 qualification, so they have decided to give the best chance to the national side to collect maximum points and strengthen their chances of progressing directly for the pinnacle 50-over tournament.
“We have retained the same core of players so they further establish themselves in the format. I hope this bunch will continue the form they gained from the Australia series,” he said.
“Also, and taking into consideration that there will be no Managed Event Environment and the players can be called at a short notice, we have reduced the squad size to 16 players. For the Australia ODIs, we had also announced backup players as cover to those players who were carrying injuries. Players such as Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan are now fully fit, which has allowed us to leave out Asif Afridi and Usman Qadir.”
Mohammad Wasim said that Usman along with Asif Ali and Haider Ali remain in the PCB’s plans for the shortest format as they have a series of T20I lined up this year, including the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022.
The squad includes three openers in Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq, three middle-order batters in Babar Azam, Iftikhar Ahmed and Khushdil Shah, two wicketkeeper/batters in Mohammad Haris and Mohammad Rizwan, two spin all-rounders Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan with Zahid Mahmood as a wrist spinner and five fast bowlers in Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Wasim Junior, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Shahnawaz Dahani.
Pakistan boasts three batters inside the top-15 of ICC player rankings with Babar sitting on top of the tree, followed by third-ranked Imam-ul-Haq and 12th-ranked Fakhar Zaman.
Amongst the bowlers, Shaheen Shah Afridi is the highest-ranked player in the seventh position.
Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper/batter), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper/batter), Mohammad Wasim Junior, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shahnawaz Dahani and Zahid Mahmood.
Visitors expected to land in Islamabad on January 6, and after practice match, will depart for Multan
Lahore Qalandars to make first pick in platinum category during player draft event to be held on Jan 11, 2025
Cricketing body notifies ICC of decision made after chairman met with UAE's president
Opening batter becomes first in ODI cricket history to get out on ducks in all games of a series
Sufiyan Muqeem, Saim Ayub starred with ball, while Shaneen and Naseem claimed two wickets each
Uncapped Sufiyan earns his place in lineup on back of stellar performances in T20I series against Zimbabwe
