PCB announces squad for T20 World Cup, Shaheen Shah Afridi returns after injury
The team will be led by Babar Azam and with the return of Shaheen Shah Afridi, the side looks even stronger.
New Delhi: Pakistan Cricket Board has announced the squad for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and the tri-series with Bangladesh and New Zealand. The team will be led by Babar Azam and with the return of Shaheen Shah Afridi, the side looks even stronger. After reaching the finals of the Asia Cup 2022, Pakistan will look out to improve in certain areas and go for the win.
Pakistan’s squad looks strong with the top two T20I batters by their side. Captain Babar Azam was recently dethroned by his own teammate Mohammad Rizwan in the ICC Men’s T20I Batters rankings. Rizwan was also the top scorer in the Asia Cup 2022 with 281 runs in six innings at an average of 56.20. Though Babar only scored 68 runs in the six games, his class cannot be undermined. With power hitters Khushdil Shah and Asif Ali, the team looks strong. Out of form Fakhar Zaman has been put on the list of standby players due to a knee injury.
The bowling department will be elated to have in form Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Harris Rauf with the spin duo of Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan. Afridi missed the Asia Cup 2022 and went to rehab. Meanwhile, both Nawaz and Shadab have also scored runs at a good strike rate when the team needed them to deliver.
With the bowling coach Shaun Tait and mentor Matthew Hayden, the support staff has a lot of experience in Australian conditions.
Pakistan’s 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
Introducing our squad ?
?️ https://t.co/JnHpDOvXsS#T20WorldCup | #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/BbmTdtBfhk
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) September 15, 2022
The same squad is expected to face Bangladesh and New Zealand in the tri-series from October 7 onwards. The series will end on October 14 and the teams will walk into the World Cup from there on. Pakistan will also play a home T20I series against England from September 20 onwards.