Pakistan include Sarfaraz, Fakhar and Haider in T20 World Cup squad

Former
spinner
Saqlain
Mushtaq
has
been
named
interim
head
coach
following
the
resignation
of
Misbah-ul-Haq.

As
announced
earlier,
former
Australia
batter
Matthew
Hayden
and
former
South
Africa
pacer
Vernon
Philander
will
be
the
team’s
batting
and
bowling
consultants
for
the
mega
event.
The
cut-off
for
making
squad
changes
is
October
10.

Many
former
Pakistan
cricketers,
including
Rashid
Latif
and
Shoaib
Akhtar,
wanted
wholesale
changes
in
the
squad
announced
on
September
4.

“…After
taking
into
consideration
player
performances
and
form,
the
selectors
have
made
three
changes,”
said
the
PCB
in
a
statement.

“Sarfaraz
Ahmed
and
Haider
Ali
have
replaced
Azam
Khan
and
Mohammad
Hasnain
respectively,
while
Fakhar
Zaman,
who
was
originally
named
as
a
travel
reserve,
has
swapped
places
with
Khushdil
Shah.

Pakistan
open
their
World
Cup
campaign
against
India
on
October
24.

“The
decision
on
Sohaib
Maqsood’s
inclusion
in
the
squad
will
be
made
following
medical
advice.

“The
top-order
batter
underwent
MRI
scans
for
the
lower
back
after
the
6
October
National
T20
match
against
Northern
and
missed
Thursday’s
Punjab
derby
against
Central
Punjab.”

Chief
selector
Muhammad
Wasim
said
performances
of
the
domestic
T20
event
were
considered
before
they
made
the
changes.

“After
reviewing
player
performances
in
the
highly-competitive
National
T20
and
in
consultation
with
the
team
management,
we
have
decided
to
include
Haider
Ali,
Fakhar
Zaman
and
Sarfaraz
Ahmed
in
the
squad
for
the
T20
World
Cup
2021.

“The
three
in-form
players
bring
with
them
wealth
of
experience
and
talent,
and
provide
further
stability,
balance
and
strength
to
the
side.

“It
must
be
tough
for
Azam,
Khushdil
and
Hasnain
for
missing
out
but
they
still
have
a
lot
to
offer
in
their
careers.
They
are
in
our
future
plans…”

Pakistan’s
15-member
squad:
Babar
Azam
(captain),
Shadab
Khan
(vice-captain),
Asif
Ali,
Fakhar
Zaman,
Haider
Ali,
Haris
Rauf,
Hasan
Ali,
Imad
Wasim,
Mohammad
Hafeez,
Mohammad
Nawaz,
Mohammad
Rizwan
(wicketkeeper),
Mohammad
Wasim
Jnr,
Sarfaraz
Ahmed
(wicketkeeper),
Shaheen
Shah
Afridi,
Sohaib
Maqsood.

Traveling
reserves
–
Khushdil
Shah,
Shahnawaz
Dahani
and
Usman
Qadir.