Kamran Akmal picks Pakistan’s 15-member squad for T20 World Cup 2021

Former wicketkeeper-batter Kamran Akmal has picked the Pakistan squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2021, scheduled to be played in the United Arab Emirates and Oman from October 18 to November 14.

Akmal chose a bunch of 24 players, before trimming them down to 15. He opted the openers as Mohammad Rizwan and Sharjeel Khan, with skipper the senior trio of Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik following in the middle-order.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Akmal said: “Mohammad Rizwan has been performing really well as an opener. He has been in great form. Rizwan can play the aggressor in the powerplay and then he also rotates strike in the middle-overs. Alongside him, Sharjeel Khan, who is a fearless batter. He believes in himself and can play aggressively and can utilize the fielding restrictions,” he said.

Speaking about the middle-order, he said: “Babar Azam has been carrying the batting lineup of Pakistan for quite some time now. He is a world-class player. He should be at No.3, while Mohammad Hafeez is another experienced player, he can finish the game and does the job with the ball too.”

Azam Khan needs to be given a longer run: Kamran Akmal

For the No. 5 spot and 6 spots, Akmal had a toss-up between Shoaib Malik and Fakhar Zaman, and Azam Khan and Haider Ali, but he went on to pick the formers. “Pakistan’s middle-order is poor and Shoaib Malik needs to be in there. Azam Khan needs to be given a longer run. Others have been given many chances and he should get those too. So, no decision should be made in a rush about him.”

Akmal lauded Shadab Khan and Faheem Ashraf’s all-round abilities and stated that they should be inside keeping in mind the conditions in the UAE. He opted for pacers Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Asif Ali, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, laying stress on the need of picking early wickets.

“Spinners will dominate in the UAE, so Shadab Khan would be a key player. He needs to be in form for Pakistan. Faheem Ashraf has also performed in the recent past and I think he would be given a chance. Imad Wasim is another good player, who has done well in the shorter format.”

“Bowlers like Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf would be required to get early breakthroughs.”

Kamran Akmal’s Pakistan T20 World Cup Squad

Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Sharjeel Khan, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Azam Khan, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Asif Ali, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Imad Wasim