Pakistan has boosted their squad ahead of the ICC T20 Cricket World Cup with pace bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi set to return from injury.
Afridi will join the 15-man squad in Australia when the tournament kicks off in October.
The 22-year-old unfortunately missed the Asia Cup after suffering a right knee injury while fielding in a Test match against Sri Lanka in Galle in July.
Shan Masood was also named in the Pakistan squad, for his T20 International debut, on top of his great form in the England T20 blast.
Masood has represented Pakistan in various Tests and ODI matches however.
Other additions to the side include, Haider Ali being added despite a less than ideal run of form with the bat only averaging 13.71 from 7 T20 internationals this year, replacing Fakhar Zaman who is sidelined with an injury.
Pakistan chief selector Mohammad Wasim is confident in his squad ahead of the competition in Sydney.
“We have a team that can perform strongly in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022, that’s why we have shown faith and confidence in almost the same set of players who have been part of the T20I squad post the 2021 World Cup in the UAE”.
“These players have performed well since November 2021 and that’s why we have won nine out of our last 13 T20Is. We have invested in these cricketers and it is fair to them that they get the opportunity to show their mettle in the World Cup, an event for which they have been preparing and training hard.”
“We needed to ensure continuity and support to these players, and that’s precisely what we have done. We are receiving encouraging reports about Shaheen Shah Afridi, who is likely to resume bowling early next month.”
Wasim said of the squad.
T20 World Cup squad:
Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan (vc), Asif Ali, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Usman Qadir
Reserves:
Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Haris, Shahnawaz Dahani
