Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday (September 15) announced its squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022, slated to be held in Australia from October 16 to November 13.

In the 15-member squad, top-order batter Shan Masood has been included for the first-time in the shortest format along with fast bowlers Mohammad Wasim Junior and Shaheen Shah Afridi.

Wasim Junior has been picked after recovering completely from the side strain he sustained during the recently held 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.

Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Haris and Shahnawaz Dahani have been named as the three traveling reserves.

The PCB also announced the squad for the seven-match T20I series against England, which will be played in Karachi and Lahore from September 20 to October 2.

The selectors have named all the players who will travel for the T20 World Cup except Fakhar Zaman and Shaheen Shah Afridi. As their replacements, all-rounder Aamir Jamal and spinner Abrar Ahmed have been included in the side. 

As expected, not everyone was pleased with the squad. Minutes after the squad was announced, former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir took to Twitter to express his displeasure.

In his tweet, Amir took a jibe at chief selector Muhammad Wasim as he wrote: “chief slector ki cheap  selection.”

Notably, Mohammad Amir had retired from international cricket in 2020 at the age of 28, citing that he was “being mentally tortured” by the team management.

Since then, the left-arm pacer is playing T20 leagues around the world. He is currently plying his trade in the Caribbean Premier League 2022 for Jamaica Tallawahs, claiming 10 wickets from 6 matches.

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

Pakistan squad for England T20Is:

Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan (vc), Aamir Jamal, Abrar Ahmed, Asif Ali, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Junior, Naseem Shah, Shahnawaz Dahani, Shan Masood and Usman Qadir