PAKISTAN Cricket Board (PCB) yesterday named their high-profile stars in the cricket squad for the upcoming one-day international (ODI) and T20 series against Zimbabwe to set up some intriguing contests during the limited overs series which starts on September 27 at Harare Sports Club.
BY DANIEL NHAKANISO
The two sides will clash in the two T20 matches on September 27 and 29, before facing off in the three ODI matches to be played at the same venue on October 1, 3 and 5.
Two days after Zimbabwe named their 16-man squad for both formats, PCB also announced their specialist squads, while naming the big-hitting Shahid “Boom Boom” Afridi and Azhar Ali as captains for the T20 and ODI squads, respectively.
PCB selectors recalled batsman Sohaib Maqsood, who has not played international cricket since Pakistan’s World Cup quarterfinal loss to Australia in March, after fracturing his left hand.
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Three uncapped players namely fast-bowler Imran Khan Jr, offspinner Bilal Asif and all-rounder Aamer Yamin were also included after their impressive performances in Pakistan’s domestic National T20 championship.
“We have rewarded some outstanding performers in the recently concluded tournament and Imran was one of them,” chief selector Haroon Rasheed said in a PCB statement on their official website.
Imran took 16 wickets in seven matches, including a hat-trick, as he spearheaded Peshawar to the title with a win over Karachi in Tuesday’s final.
Pakistan selectors hope Asif will fill a void in the off-spin department, with Saeed Ajmal yet to bowl to his full potential after remodeling his action and Mohammad Hafeez suspended from international matches due to illegal bowling action.
Fast bowler Anwar will miss the Twenty20s after he sustained a groin injury during the national T20 tournament, but will join the team before the ODI series.
Veteran batsman Younis Khan was not selected after a poor run o in the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in February and March this year.
Following the announcement of the squads, the Pakistan players were immediately directed to report for the team’s training camp, which will officially start today, before their departure for Zimbabwe on September 23.
Pakistan squads T20: Shahid Afridi (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Mukhtar Ahmed, Umar Akmal, Sohaib Maqsood, Shoaib Malik, Aamer Yamin, Mohammad Irfan, Bilal Asif, Wahab Riaz, Imad Wasim, Sohail Tanvir, Mohammad Rizwan, Imran Khan Jr.
ODI: Azhar Ali (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Sohaib Maqsood, Shoaib Malik, Babar Azam, Sarfraz Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan, Immad Wasim, Anwar Ali, Wahab Riaz, Yasir Shah, Rahat Ali, Mohammad Irfan, Asad Shafiq
Zimbabwe squad Elton Chigumbura (captain), Chamunorwa Chibhabha, Graeme Cremer, Craig Ervine, Luke Jongwe, Neville Madziva, Hamilton Masakadza, Christopher Mpofu, Richmond Mutumbami, Taurai Muzarabani, John Nyumbu, Tinashe Panyangara, Sikandar Raza, Prosper Utseya, Malcolm Waller, Sean Williams