Babar Azam will lead an 18-member team that includes injured wicketkeepers Azam Khan and Mohammad Rizwan.
Pakistan have recalled injured fast bowler Haris Rauf and medium pacer Hasan Ali for the Twenty20 series against Ireland and England later this month, the final prelude to the T20 World Cup. , its members have not been announced. Tournament with 20 teams in June.
Wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan, Azam Khan and Mohammad Irfan Khan, who was injured in the match against New Zealand last month, were also included in the 18-man squad selected on Thursday.
Pakistan’s selection committee is yet to name the final 15-man squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup to be held in June between the United States and the West Indies.
“There are fitness issues with a few players, but we hope to be able to finalize the World Cup squad during the tour to England,” selection committee member Wahab Riaz told a press conference in Lahore.
All 20 World Cup teams had to submit a reserve squad of 15 players to the International Cricket Council by a May 1 deadline, but changes were allowed until May 25.
🚨Pakistan’s 1️⃣8️⃣ squad announced for T20I series between Ireland and England🚨
Read more ➡️ https://t.co/QSn58qT7ZJ#IREvPAK | #ENGvPAK | #backtheboysingreen pic.twitter.com/cTQkgveWlt
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) May 2, 2024
Rauf, keeper-batsmen Mohammad Rizwan and Azam Khan, and middle-order batsman Irrfan Khan, who are all recovering from injuries, were included in the 18-man squad.
Rauf, 30, has been away from competitive cricket since dislocating his shoulder during the Pakistan Super League in February, but has been bowling at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore, where he is undergoing rehabilitation.
Azam missed out on the eve of the first T20 in Rawalpindi after sustaining a calf muscle injury. Both Rizwan and Irfan were ruled out of the final two T20s against the Black Caps after sustaining hamstring injuries during the third match.
“Rauf has started bowling and will be match fit by the time we play England,” Riaz said.
“We have included Hasan Ali in the squad as a back-up.” Hasan has not played a Twenty20 international for Pakistan since September 2022.
Ali has taken 60 wickets in 50 T20s but has not played for Pakistan in this format since the Asia Cup in September 2022. He plays for Warwickshire in the English County Championship Division One and came into consideration after taking 14 wickets in the Pakistan Super. He played in the league while representing Karachi Kings.
Usman Khan switches allegiances and gets another chance
The selectors gave top batsman Usman Khan another chance, but he was handed a five-year ban by the Emirates Cricket Board representative for shifting his allegiance to his native Pakistan. Usman failed to make an impact in the drawn series, scoring only 59 points with a top score of 31 in four games against New Zealand.
Spinning all-rounder Agha Salman, who played in Tests and One-Day Internationals, is about to make his T20 debut after joining the squad.
Agha has been recalled as an option in the spin department, which also includes Shadab Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Imad Wasim and Iftikhar Ahmed.
Leg-spinner Osama Mir and fast bowler Zaman Khan, who played in the series against the Blackcaps, have been cut.
“I understand that Osama and Zaman will be disappointed,” Riaz said.
“They are quality cricketers with long careers ahead of them. They need to stay focused on their cricket and be available if needed.”
Pakistan will play Ireland in Dublin on May 10, 12 and 14.
This was followed by four games against England at Headingley in Leeds on 22nd May, Edgbaston in Birmingham (25th May), Sophia Gardens in Cardiff (28th May) and the Oval in London (30th May). A match will be held.
Pakistan T20 squad for matches in Ireland and England: Babar Azam (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan, Irfan Khan , Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan.
