Pakistan Squad for Afghanistan ODIs and Asia Cup 2023: Pakistan Cricket Board announced an 18-member squad for the upcoming Afghanistan ODIs and Asia Cup 2023 series.
As expected Babar Azam will lead the side while the board made an unexpected including by recalling allrounder Faheem Ashraf and also handed a maiden call-up to middle-order batter Tayyab Tahir.
Faheem Ashraf Included in Pakistan Squad for Afghanistan ODIs and Asia Cup 2023
The bowling allrounder made his ODI debut on June 12, 2017, against Sri Lanka at Sophia Gardens and played his last ODI on July 13, 2021. Faheem Ashraf is set to make a comeback after almost after 2 years. Ashraf was sidelined from the national team due to injuries and loss of form.
On the other hand, Tayyab Tahir has been rewarded maiden debut for his impressive domestic performances. He was also amongst the runs in the recently concluded Emerging Asia Cup where he stroked a century in the final.
As per Afghanistan v Pakistan 2023 ODI series, the first match will be played on August 22 at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium, Hambantota. The series will lay a strong foundation for both teams for their preparation for the Asia Cup 2023 and World Cup 2023.
“Preference has been given to Faheem Ashraf, since the squad doesn’t have another allrounder,” Pakistan’s newly-appointed chief national men’s selector Inzamam-ul-Haq said at a press conference.
“If you look at PSL and other tournaments, he was in good form. And we need an allrounder, he is a fast-bowling allrounder, which we need at the World Cup”, he added.
Middle-order batter Saud Shakeel who makes a return to the ODI squad will play only the Afghanistan series and will not be in the squad for the Asia Cup 2023.
Fast bowler Ihsanullah, middle-order batter Haris Sohail and top-order batter Shan Masood have been dropped from that bilateral assignment as Pakistan aim to finalise their pool for the upcoming ODI World Cup in India.
“Shan has performed very well on the whole across formats. Unfortunately, his performances in ODIs have gone down. We have a list of 20-21 players, and Shan is part of that. But Saud Shakeel and a couple of other players were impressive recently, so we have to leave out Shan. But he is a part of our plans,” said the former Pakistan captain, who is in his second stint as chief selector.
CHECK: Asia Cup 2023 Pakistan Schedule With Venue Details
Pakistan Squad for Afghanistan ODIs and Asia Cup 2023
Babar Azam (C), Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Haris, Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Ifthikar Ahmed, Abdullah Shafique, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Salman Ali Agha, Faheem Ashraf, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Usama Mir, Mohammad Wasim Jr
