ICC World Cup 2019: PCB names the Pakistan squad for the mega event

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has recently announced the 15-man squad for the ICC World Cup in England and Wales, set to get underway on Thursday, May 30. Pakistan are scheduled to play their first match of the 50-overs tournament against the Windies at the Trent Bridge in Nottingham. The Men in Green are currently ranked sixth in the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) ODI team rankings.

The team wouldn’t be brimming with confidence and has plenty of issues to encounter as they slumped to a 0-5 defeat against Australia in the recently concluded ODI series in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) where the board decided to rest quite a few of their big players, including Sarfaraz Ahmed, who also didn’t play a few matches in the tour of South Africa owing to an on-field controversy.

Pakistan also were encountered with a few injury concerns, including that of Mohammad Hafeez, who developed a hand injury while playing for the Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2019. However, the Punjab-born all-rounder went on to pass the fitness test, conducted on 23 probable players. On the contrary, Imad Wasim flattered to deceive and couldn’t pass the test.

Wasim failed to reach the parameter of 17.4 in the yo-yo test and it was learned that the all-rounder would be provided with another opportunity. Thereafter, he went through rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA). Mohammad Nawaz was speculated to be Wasim’s replacement. Batsman Abid Ali, who scored his maiden ODI century on debut itself in Dubai, also couldn’t clear the test.

No Amir in the squad

As far as the 15-member squad is concerned, Mohammad Amir didn’t find a place in the squad. He has had an extended run of poor form and has been in and out of the team. Left-arm speedster Junaid Khan has been drafted in. Fast bowler Mohammad Hasnain, who got into the national team in the ODI series against Australia after an impressive PSL 2019, also managed to make the cut.

Chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq, who named the squad in a press conference, also opined on Hafeez and said that his selection was subject to fitness. Wasim was also selected much to the all-rounder’s delight. He will have leg-spinner Shadab Khan for company. Hasan Ali, Faheem Ashraf and Shaheen Afridi are the pacers.

The team will be captained by wicketkeeper Sarfaraz. Abid made it into the squad as well. Imam-ul-Haq and Fakhar Zaman are the probable opening batsmen. The onus would also be the experienced all-rounder Shoaib Malik, who would be retiring from ODI cricket after the mega event, and Babar Azam as well.

Here is the squad

Sarfaraz Ahmed (C), Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abid Ali, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Hafeez, Haris Sohail, Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Hasan Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Junaid Khan and Mohammad Hasnain.

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