Former captain Babar Azam has returned to Pakistan’s squad for the Twenty20 World Cup, a day after their cricket board chief solid doubt over the staff’s participation within the world showpiece, which begins on February 7.
T20 common Haris Rauf was dropped from the 15-man squad, led by Salman Ali Agha. It was introduced on Saturday regardless of the uncertainty surrounding Pakistan’s plans for the World Cup.
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Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, additionally the nation’s inside minister, mentioned the PCB was awaiting the authorities’s permission earlier than confirming the staff’s participation after the Worldwide Cricket Council (ICC) kicked out Bangladesh over their refusal to play in India.
Hours later, the PCB introduced its squad for the match
Nevertheless, chief selector Aaqib Javed mentioned the Pakistani authorities would make a remaining name on whether or not the staff would journey to Sri Lanka.
“Our job is to choose the staff,” Javed mentioned after naming the squad in Lahore, Pakistan. “We’ve introduced the staff very near the deadline.
“The federal government will determine on our participation, so I can say nothing on that entrance. That’s what the chairman has mentioned too, so we’ll wait for his or her choice.”
India will host the vast majority of the T20 World Cup matches, however Pakistan will play completely in Sri Lanka due to the fraught political relations between New Delhi and Islamabad.
Bangladesh have been changed by Scotland for his or her refusal to tour India as a result of security considerations, which the ICC rejected final week.
Along with Babar, spin-bowling all-rounder Shadab Khan and quick bowler Naseem Shah have additionally returned, however there was no place for wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan.
Pakistan’s selectors excluded quick bowler Mohammad Wasim from the 16-member squad introduced for subsequent week’s three-match T20 sequence towards Australia in Lahore.
In addition they continued to disregard Rauf, who hasn’t performed since competing within the Asia Cup in September however stored religion with struggling Babar, who scored 202 runs at a strike fee of 103.06 in 11 Massive Bash League video games whereas opening the batting for Sydney Sixers.
“We don’t see him opening the batting [at the World Cup],” head coach Mike Hesson mentioned. “He hasn’t opened the batting for us as a result of the flexibility to assault within the powerplay is essential.”
Hesson mentioned Babar might turn out to be useful on sluggish pitches in Sri Lanka, the place Pakistan are scheduled to play all their video games, together with the playoffs in the event that they advance within the match.
“He [Babar] actually has the talent to manage the center overs if required after which to feed the strike to sure gamers,” Hesson mentioned. “If we’re chasing a decrease rating, he actually has that potential to manage a chase. … The circumstances in Australia are considerably completely different than what we’re going to face in Sri Lanka, so we factored all these issues in.”
Hesson mentioned the selectors most well-liked the three quick bowlers – Shaheen Shah Afridi, Salman Mirza and Naseem Shah – after bearing in mind their skills to bowl in all three T20 phases.
With the wickets more likely to go well with spinners, Pakistan included 4 spinners: Mohammad Nawaz, Khan, Abrar Ahmed and Usman Tariq.
Pakistan play their opening Group A match towards the Netherlands on February 7, adopted by matches towards the USA (February 10), India (February 15) and Namibia (February 18).
Pakistan squad: Salman Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wicketkeeper), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wicketkeeper), Usman Tariq
