Courtesy-Geo News
Pakistan cricket selectors have recalled four veteran players and named uncapped Azam Khan to their teams for tours to England and the West Indies. From July 8 to 20, the team will play three ODIs and as many T20Is in England before facing world champions West Indies in five T20Is followed by two Tests.
Haris Sohail, a middle-order batsman, has been added to the ODI squad, while Imad Wasim has returned to the T20I squad. Mohammad Abbas and Naseem Shah, both fast bowlers, have returned to the Test squad.
Yasir Shah’s participation is conditional on his fitness, as the wrist spinner is still recovering from a knee ailment that kept him out of the Zimbabwe Tests. Leg-spinner Zahid Mahmood, left-arm spinner Nauman Ali, and off-spinner Sajid Khan have all been retained by the selectors for the Jamaica Tests.
Unrestricted Saud Shakeel has also restored his position after missing the South Africa One-Day Internationals owing to injury. Salman Ali Agha, who was dropped from the Test squad, has been called up for ODIs. After being recruited as an extra player for Zimbabwe T20Is following a brilliant performance in South Africa, Fakhar Zaman has kept his position in the original team.
Azam Khan, the 22-year-old hard-hitting batsman from Quetta Gladiators, is the new face in the T20I team. “We have remained constant in our selection and preserved the same core of cricketers who have been in the set-up for a while,” said chief selector Muhammad Wasim.
This is a crucial visit for Pakistan since they will be playing ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League ODIs against England as well as T20Is against England and the West Indies as part of our preparations for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
The Jamaica Test will count towards the ICC World Test Championship. Keeping in view the above and in consultation with captain Babar Azam and head Misbah-ul-Haq, the Pakistan team have tried their best to maintain the winning combinations but at the same time recalled four experienced players and rewarded uncapped Azam Khan for his domestic performance, while also giving him the required confidence for the future challenges.