Published: Feb 10, 2016, 03:11 PM (IST)
Edited: Feb 10, 2016, 03:30 PM (IST)
Pakistan announced their squad for the Asia Cup 2016 as well as the ICC World T20 2016 on Wednesday, axing their star batsman Ahmed Shehzad and including two unknown entities in Rumman Raees and Mohammad Nawaz. While the former world champions of the shortest format of cricket have announced their 15-man squad, it remains to be seen whether they will play in the ICC World T20 2016 after all. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Shahryar Khan had confirmed recently that they will wait from their central government’s nod to participate in the ICC World T20 2016, which their arch rivals India will be hosting for the very first time. ALSO READ: India-Pakistan series: PCB approach ICC over BCCI’s refusal
Among the players who have been axed from the Pakistan squad are Umar Gul and Sohaib Maqsood as well as their wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan. According to AFP, Pakistan’s chief selector Haroon Rasheed said the squad selection was based on the conditions that the team is supposed to get in India and Bangladesh.
“While picking the squad, the team management and skipper were consulted by the selectors, and all concerned gave their consent in this regard,” Rasheed said. “The T20 team has been selected keeping in mind the conditions and the recent performances of some players in domestic and A team tours. The team is a fine blend of experience and youth and the selectors believe that team will do well in both tournaments.”
The Asia Cup 2016 will begin on February 24, and Pakistan are slated to take on their arch rivals India on February 27. It must be remembered that the two teams are also set to clash in the league round of the ICC World T20 2016 match, which will be played at Dharamsala on March 19.
Pakistan squad for ICC World T20 2016: Shahid Afridi (c), Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Sarfraz Ahmed, Babar Azam, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Anwar Ali, Mohammad Irfan, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Nawaz, Khurram Manzoor, Rumman Raees
