Asia Cup | Pakistan includes six pacers in team
Pakistan have included as many as six pace bowlers in their squad for the upcoming Asia Cup starting from September 15 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The PCB selection committee has surprisingly left out senior batsman Mohammad Hafeez and all-rounder Imad Wasim from the 16-man squad.
Led by wicketkeeper-batsman Sarfaraz Ahmed, the Pakistani squad is including six pace bowlers- Fahim Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Amir, Junaid Khan, Usman Shinwari and Shaheen Afridi. The squad was announced on Wednesday and the team management has decided to go with
Pakistan's bowling looks more settled with leggie Shadab Khan being a direct pick in the playing XI along with pacers like Hasan, Junaid and Amir. They have got two quality youngsters in the form of Usman and Shaheen while in the absence of Wasim, all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz got picked in the squad providing a left arm spin option.
Fakhar Zaman and Imam Ul Haq would in all probability open the Pakistan innings while they have also picked up Shan Masood in the squad. The middle-order is also looking settled with the presence of players like Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik and Asif Ali along with the captain.
38-year-old Hafeez didn't find a place in the squad after his poor outing in limited overs matches and regular success of others in the batting department. He had last got a game in New Zealand earlier this
Pakistan has also left out Wasim because of his failure in getting to the required YoYo Test mark while leg-spinner Yasir Shah who played against Zimbabwe also didn't find a place in the Asia Cup team.
Squad: Fakhar Zaman, Imam Ul Haq, Shan Masood, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed (c), Asif Ali, Haris Sohail, Shadab Khan, Muhammad Nawaz, Fahim Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Amir, Junaid Khan, Usman Shinwari, Shaheen Afridi