Asif Ali and Khushdil Shah have made a comeback to the Pakistan cricket team for the ICC World T20 2021, with Babbar Azam leading the side as expected.
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The Pakistan cricket team has announced a 15-man squad for the ICC World T20 2021 that will be played in the UAE. Babar Azam will lead the team, with Mohammad Hafeez playing in potentially his last ICC event. The veteran, who made his debut in 2003, has had an 18-year playing career and he has enjoyed a rich vein of form in the shortest format. However, the Pakistan team has seen two comebacks and one surprise omission.
Asif Ali and Khushdil Shah have been included in the side, despite some inconsistent performances. Asif has scored only 32 runs in four games in the ongoing Caribbean Premier League 2021 for St Kitts and Nevis Patriots. Khushdil, on the other hand, chipped in with some good scores during the Kashmir Premier League for Mirpur Royals.
There was one major surprise in the side, with Faheem Ashraf left out. The all-rounder, who has impressed with the ball and bat in Tests, was not considered for selection. Sharjeel Khan, who hit a century for Mirpur Royals in the Kashmir Premier League, has also not been included. There was also no place for other veterans in the team like Wahab Riaz, Shoaib Malik, and Sarfaraz Ahmed.
The Pakistan team consists of good fast bowling talent in Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Haris Rauf, and Hasan Ali. Hafeez, in addition to Shadab Khan and Imad Wasim, will be the spinning options for the side. Pakistan has won the World T20 only once and that was under the captaincy of Younis Khan in England.
Pakistan will play Twenty20 Internationals against New Zealand and England in preparation for the ICC World T20. Their first match will be a blockbuster against India in Dubai on October 24. All the five Twenty20 Internationals against New Zealand will be played in Lahore. The two matches against England will be held in Rawalpindi.
Currently, New Zealand is playing Bangladesh in five Twenty20 Internationals. Initially, there was doubt whether the series in Pakistan will go ahead as there were issues related to security. But, that has been given a green signal and all the games will go ahead as proceeded.
Pakistan’s match against India will determine how they can build momentum for the World T20. They have lost all five games against India in the ICC World T20 stretching back to 2007. They have achieved success only in the ICC Champions Trophy while they are 0-7 in World Cups against India. The tournament will be played in the UAE, in venues where Pakistan has enjoyed tremendous success in the past.
But, in the 2018 Asia Cup, India successfully managed to trump Pakistan in their ‘home’ venues to ensure they have the wood over them. The 2021 edition was postponed initially. India was expected to host the games but due to the coronavirus pandemic, the UAE was the next best option.
Babar Azam (capt), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Asif Ali, Sohaib Maqsood, Azam Khan (wicket-keeper), Khusdil Shah, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Junior, Shaheen Afridi, Harris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Hasnain.
Reserves: Usman Qadar, Shanawaz Dhani, Fakhar Zaman
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