LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced on Friday the final squad for the ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup.
According to the changes made by PCB in the final 15, Fakhar Zaman has been included in the side, besides Haider Ali and Sarfaraz Ahmed.
Muhammad Hasnain has been dropped, whereas Shahnawaz Dahani and Khushdil Shah have been included in the list of reserve players along with Usman Qadir.
The national squad selected for the World Cup will enter a bio-secure bubble today. The players will spend one day in isolation after getting tested for coronavirus.
The team will be trained for the tournament at the National High Performance Centre (NHPC) from Sunday.
Muhammad Wasim, regarding PCB’s announcement, said: “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 ICC Men’s 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 as a lot of cricket has to be played post the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 and in the lead up to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia.
“I am pleased with the intensity and high quality of cricket that we have witnessed in the National T20. It has not only provided the players excellent match practice in the lead up to the UAE competition, it has also given us the opportunity to closely monitor the player progress and then make decisions that are in the best interest of the side for what will be a cut-throat tournament.”
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 will be held in the United Arab Emirates from October 17 to November 14. Pakistan is in Group 2 and will open their campaign against India on October 24 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
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 October 6 National T20 match against Northern and missed Thursday’s Punjab derby against Central Punjab. Sohaib Maqsood’s prospects of retaining his place in the T20 World Cup squad suffered a jolt as sources on Friday said the middle-order batsman is suffering from back pain.
“Sohaib Maqsood was brought to a hospital for an MRI scan,” a source told Geo News. “He is finding it difficult to walk. His inclusion in the World Cup squad will be made after the report is released,” it added.
