Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday (August 3) announced its 16-member squad for the upcoming ODI series against Netherlands and a 15-member team for the Asia Cup 2022.
The three-match ODI series, part of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League, will be played in Rotterdam from August 16-21 whereas the Asia Cup, in a T20 format, will be held in UAE from August 27 to September 11.
Young speedster Naseem Shah has been included in both the squads in place of Hasan Ali, while Salman Ali Agha, who toured England in 2021 for the ODIs, has been recalled.
Left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi has been named in the ODI and T20I squads, and his rehabilitation programme will be monitored by the team trainer and physiotherapist, who will also decide on his return to international cricket.
There will be five changes from the Netherlands ODI squad to the ACC T20 Asia Cup side. Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Haris, Salman Ali Agha and Zahid Mehmood will be replaced by Asif Ali, Haider Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed and Usman Qadir.
"We have only made changes that were necessary. Both the competitions are important for us and, as such, we have picked our best available players in consultation with the captain and head coach," chief selector Muhammad Wasim said in an official release.
"Hasan has been given a break from international cricket and he has been replaced by Naseem Shah. He is express fast and can give further impetus to the fast bowling department, which already boasts Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Shahnawaz Dahani. Naseem has not played any international white-ball cricket, but he has demonstrated with the red-ball that he is an attacking option with good pace and controlled swing," he added.
The training camp for the players will be held in Lahore from August 6-11, during which they will also play two 50-over matches. The side will depart for Amsterdam in the wee hours of Friday, August 12. T20I players will join the squad in Dubai for the ACC T20 Asia Cup on August 22.
Squads:
Pakistan squad for Netherlands ODIs - Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shahnawaz Dahani and Zahid Mehmood.
Pakistan squad for ACC T20 Asia Cup - Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shahnawaz Dahani, and Usman Qadir.
(With PCB inputs)
