On Thursday, Pakistan Cricket Board announced the squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup. The Babar Azam-led side looks similar to the one that played in the recently-concluded Asia Cup 2022. Shadab Khan has been named as Babar Azam’s deputy, while star premier paceman Shaheen Shah Afridi, who was ruled out of Asia Cup 2022 because of an injury, makes a return to the squad.
Pakistan has an exciting pace bowling department with the likes of Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, and Mohammad Hasnain named alongside Afridi. Shahnawaz Dahani has been named in the reserves. Fakhar Zaman, who had a rather poor outing in the Asia Cup 2022, has been included in the reserves list.
“In the 15-player World Cup squad, top-order batter Shan Masood has been included in the side for the shortest format for the first-time along with fast bowlers Mohammad Wasim Junior and Shaheen Shah Afridi, while Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Haris and Shahnawaz Dahani have been named as the three traveling reserves.”
“Wasim Junior has been included after recovering completely from the side strain he suffered during the ACC T20 Asia Cup, whereas Shaheen, who is undergoing rehabilitation for a knee injury in London and expected to resume bowling early next month, will join the squad in Brisbane on 15 October,” a PCB statement said.
Meanwhile, former player Mohammad Amir was left upset after PCB announced the squad for World Cup 2022. Mohammad Amir took to his social media and took a jibe at the chief selector. Calling the selector “cheap”, Mohammad Amir wrote:
“chief slector ki cheap selection”
Check out the Tweet:
It has to be noted that Amir and PCB have long been at loggerheads with each other. While announcing his retirement, the pacer had mentioned how the atmosphere of the team and the board is pretty bad and his mental state was being affected by the same.
Pakistan’s T20 World Cup squad:
Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan (vc), Asif Ali, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Usman Qadir
Reserves: Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Haris, Shahnawaz Dahani
