LAHORE MIRROR – Inzamam-ul-Haq, the head of the national men’s selection committee, announced on Wednesday squads for the ACC Men’s Asia Cup and the three-match One-Day International series against Afghanistan.
He made this announcement while addressing a press conference at PCB headquarters in Lahore. He informed that an 18-player squad will take on Afghanistan in Sri Lanka from 22 till 26 August and it will be trimmed to 17 players for the Asia Cup, which begins from the Multan Cricket Stadium on 30 August when Pakistan play Nepal.
Chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq's press conference at Gaddafi Stadium.
Watch live ➡️ https://t.co/EoaGpE0G4m#AFGvPAK | #AsiaCup2023 pic.twitter.com/Lpi7S5gNfR
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) August 9, 2023
Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf and Saud Shakeel have been included in the squad for the Afghanistan series. Shan Masood and Ihsanullah are the two players from the squad that played New Zealand in the five ODIs in April and May to miss out.
Faheem returns to the side after two years and further adds to the balance of the side as a fast-bowling all-rounder. His last outing in the format was during Pakistan’s three-match away series against England in July 2021.
This is Tayyab’s second call-up in the ODI side. His maiden call-up came ahead of the three ODIs against New Zealand in January following a stellar show in the Pakistan Cup 2022-23 that saw him finish as the leading run-getter in the event. The right-handed middle-order batter recently struck a scintillating century to orchestrate Pakistan Shaheens’ thumping 128-run win over India A in the ACC Men’s Emerging Cup final.
🚨 Our squad for the Afghanistan series and Asia Cup 🚨
Read more: https://t.co/XtjcVAmDV7#AFGvPAK | #AsiaCup2023 pic.twitter.com/glpVWF6oWW
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) August 9, 2023
Saud, who does not feature in the Asia Cup squad, has played five ODIs and his last was in March 2022 when Pakistan chased down 348 against Australia with six wickets in hand in Lahore.
Shan has missed out on selection following a string of low scores, while Ihsanullah is undergoing a rehabilitation programme under the observation of the PCB’s medical panel following an injury in his bowling elbow.
The team will assemble in Hambantota on 18 August with the players in Pakistan departing on 17 August. The players in Pakistan will hold a three-day camp on 14, 15 and 16 August at the National Cricket Academy, Lahore.
He also revealed the compositions of the squad for the upcoming matches. According to detail, the squad will play as follows.
Openers: The team will rely on the trio of Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, and Imam-ul-Haq to lead the batting charge at the top.
Middle Order: The captain, Babar Azam, will anchor the middle order alongside Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Tayyab Tahir, and Saud Shakeel, who will join the team specifically for the Afghanistan series.
Wicketkeepers: Mohammad Rizwan and Mohammad Haris will take on the wicketkeeping duties, ensuring a steady presence behind the stumps.
Spinners: Shadab Khan, also the vice-captain, will spearhead the spin department alongside Mohammad Nawaz and Usama Mir, providing the team with versatile spin options.
Pace All-Rounder: Faheem Ashraf will contribute as a valuable pace all-rounder, adding depth to both batting and bowling.
Pacers: The fast bowling unit will feature Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Naseem Shah, and Shaheen Afridi, forming a potent combination to challenge opposition batting line-ups.
This lineup reflects a well-rounded team composition with a mix of experience and promising young talent, aiming to deliver strong performances in the upcoming matches.
