Rizwan to lead Pak in ODIs against WI

LAHORE:

Wicket-keeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan will lead Pakistan in the three-match ODI series against West Indies as the Men's National Selection Committee named a 16-member ODI squad on Friday.

The series will be played at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad & Tobago on 8, 10 and 12 August.

Right-handed batter Hasan Nawaz is the only uncapped player in the ODI squad, while Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi are part of the ODI squad.

Pakistan will also play three T20Is against the West Indies, scheduled on 31 July, 2 and 3 August, at the Central Broward Park & Broward County Stadium in Lauderhill, USA. Salman Ali Agha will captain the T20I side, while fast bowlers Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali and Shaheen Shah Afridi return to the squad in this format.

Following the conclusion of the three-match T20I series in Bangladesh, Pakistan team will arrive in the USA on Sunday, 27 July.

Usman, Imam, Khushdil, Wasim Jr, Irfan axed

Several key players, including Salman Mirza, Akif Javed, and Imam-ul-Haq, have been dropped from Pakistan's squad.

In the T20I squad, young pacers Abbas Afridi, Salman Mirza, and Ahmed Daniyal have been dropped. All three had featured in the recent three-match T20I series against Bangladesh, where Pakistan suffered a 2-1 defeat in Mirpur.

Salman Mirza's exclusion raised eyebrows, as he was Pakistan's top wicket-taker in the series, finishing with seven wickets in three games at an impressive economy rate of 5.21. Ahmed Daniyal, who also made his debut in that series, picked up three wickets in two matches at an economy rate of 5.57 and chipped in with 17 valuable runs at a strike rate of 154.54.

Abbas Afridi, known for his performances in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), could not make a significant impact and has also been left out of the touring party.

In the ODI squad, several players from the team that faced New Zealand earlier this year have been dropped. Akif Javed, Usman Khan, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Irfan Khan, Haris Rauf and Tayyab Tahir are all missing from the 16-member squad for the three-match series.

Imam-ul-Haq, who made a comeback in Pakistan's ODI setup against New Zealand, has not been included. Similarly, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Akif Javed, Usman Khan, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Ali, Irfan Khan and Tayyab Tahir, who were expected to be part of Pakistan's long-term plans, have also failed to retain their places.

Young pacer Akif Javed, who impressed in the New Zealand series earlier this year by taking seven wickets in three games at an average of 23.57, has also been left out of the squad.

Another notable exclusion from the ODI squad is Khushdil Shah, who last featured in the Champions Trophy match against India, where he scored 38 runs to help Pakistan reach a respectable total. He also claimed one wicket in that game.

Wicketkeeper-batter Usman Khan has also been dropped from the squad without being given a proper chance in the ODI team. He featured in just two matches, scoring 51 runs.

Pakistan's tour of the West Indies will begin with three T20Is in Lauderhill, USA, followed by three ODIs in Trinidad & Tobago.

16-member squad for ODIs:

Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris (wicket-keeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Sufyan Moqim

15-member squad for T20Is:

Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wicket-keeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan (wicket-keeper), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Sufyan Moqim

Team management:

Naveed Akram Cheema (manager), Mike Hesson (head coach), Ashley Noffke (bowling coach), Hanif Malik (batting Coach), Shane McDermott (fielding Coach), Cliffe Deacon (physiotherapist), Grant Luden (strength and conditioning coach), Talha Ejaz (analyst), Syed Naeem Ahmad (media manager), Irtaza Komail (security manager), Dr Wajid Ali Rafai (team doctor) and Muhammad Ehsan (masseur).