Misbahul Haq poses with ICC World Cup 2015 trophy during a ceremony. PHOTO: AFP
Ajmal, who has led Pakistan's attack in all three formats of the game since 2009, was suspended in September because of problems with his action.
He has undergone remedial work but nevertheless withdrew last month from the World Cup to be held in Australia and New Zealand after he failed to completely alter his action to conform to regulations.
Pakistan is hoping all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez, who was included in the squad, clears his own bowling action test this month after he was suspended in November, also for an illegal action.
Under International Cricket Council (ICC) rules, bowlers are permitted to straighten their bowling arm by up to 15 degrees, which has been established as the point at which any straightening will become visible to the naked eye.
Chief selector Moin Khan said Shah, who has played only one one-day international in his career, would be productive.
"I think Yasir will be effective... and we have confidence in him," said Moin.
Misbah-ul Haq will lead the national side for the first time in the World Cup.
Pakistan, placed in Group B, will open its campaign with a highly-charged clash against arch-rivals and defending champions India in Adelaide on February 15 followed by matches against the West Indies, Zimbabwe, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa and Ireland.
The top four teams from each of the two groups will qualify for the quarter-finals, leading up to the final in Melbourne on March 29.
Moin said the team was selected after consultation with Misbah and coach Waqar Younis.
"We selected the squad after thorough consultation... and although no one can give assurances of results, we are hopeful that the team will do well," said Khan, a member of Pakistan's only World Cup winning side in Australia in 1992.
Paceman Sohail Khan was a surprise inclusion after he took ten wickets in three games in a domestic match in Karachi.
The 30-year-old bowler played the last of his five one-day internationals in Zimbabwe in 2011.
Pakistan's pace attack will comprise of lanky Mohammad Irfan, Junaid Khan, Wahab Riaz and Sohail.
Pacemen Umar Gul, Sohail Tanvir and batsmen Kamran Akmal and Shoaib Malik failed to make the cut over recent poor form.
Squad
Misbah-ul Haq (captain), Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Sarfraz Ahmed, Younis Khan, Haris Sohail, Umar Akmal, Sohaib Maqsood, Shahid Afridi, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Irfan, Junaid Khan, Ehsan Adil, Sohail Khan, Wahab Riaz.
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COMMENTS (41)
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There was no need to pick Hafeez as a batsman alone. Even if he passes the test, he will surely still be disqualified again. Everyone will be watching him. Instead Fawad Alam should have been included as an all-rounder and for that a left hander. I also fail to understand taking five front line pacers. Anwar Ali or Bhatti would have been better choices as fast bowling all-rounders. We won't make it to the semis for sure.
@ABC: You is is an honest man. He is definitely not selfish. What kind of a proof is that, that he scored @ 5 runs and he is selfish. That is a baseless comment.
@tahir bashir: Brother if your English is not good enough why do you have to expose yourself by writing a long letter.
Balanced team given the players we have although I feel really bad for fawad alam - he is a fighter and I am not he will win us many matches in the coming years. I am glad that younis is selected as nothing can match especially in a place like Australia where the bouncy wickets will be a daunting test for our batters. My playing eleven/ batting order is: Hafeez Shehzad Akmal Y.Khan Maqsood Misbah Afridi Sarfaraz Shah Junaid Irfan Extra bowling option : souhail Khan in place of one of the middle order batsmen.
Great job PCB, picked up a bowler for THE WORLD CUP who hasn't played international cricket since 2011. Nobody is questioning the talent of Sohail Khan or how consistently well he has been performing on the domestic level it's the timing of his inclusion. Should have been picked for the nz series if he was in the World Cup plans. Anwar ali or Bhatti should have been included because pakistan needs to bat deep. You are not winning games in Australia/ New Zealand by bowling a team out or restricting teams to sub 200 totals.
A balanced team, except for the exclusion of Fawad Alam. I think everyone is justly asking why he was excluded when he has a stellar performance record. I believe the playing eleven would be 1. Shehzad 2. Hafeez 3. Younus 4. Umar 5. Misbah 6. Haris 7. Sarfraz 8. Afridi 9. Wahab 10. Irfan 11. Yasir. All those criticising Wahab's selection forget he has genuine pace that will be helpful in Australia and he can bat as well. We are short one bowler/allrounder. Good luck Pakistan!
What is Hafeez doing in the squad. We tend to forget that most essential element of big tournaments like the World Cup is character.A player's skills should match his character and I think this is where Hafeez does not qualify.He is good against Zimbabwe or Bangladesh but in South Africa Hafeez was Steyn's bunny.He will be an embarrassment.
Ok team seems to be balanced, now just need to fix the batting order. Here's my view of batting order and overall team.
M. Hafeez Ahmed Shehzad Younis Khan Harris Sohail Misbah-ul-Haq Sarfraz Ahmed Shahid Afridi Wahab Riaz Junaid Khan M. Irfan Sohail Khan/Yasir Shah (For matches in Aus) I have left out Umar Akmal cuz harris sohail can bowl too, but he can play if harris fails.There is room for improvement but two positive things are 1) they went without K Akmal and S Malik which is good for dressing room, 2) they listen to coach (rightly selected Ehsan Adil) and captain (wrongly selected Hafeez instead of Muhammad Rizwan or Umar Amin). Umar Amin would have been better choice since he could bowl medium pace, and Rizwan would have been better choice as he could keep wickets as U Akmal could fake an injury at any crunch time. 1) Shehzad 2) Sarfaraz 3) S Maqsood/Hafeez 4) YK 5) Misbah 6) H Sohail 7) U Akmal/S Maqsood/Yasir (if Hafeez can't bowl then Yasir) 8) Afridi 9) Wahab 10) Suhail Khan 11) Junaid
Seems like a balanced team. Interesting to see six players from the last world cup. Let us see how the new and the old gel together and play their game. We wish the Pakistani team best of luck. Looking forward to some good cricket coming February and March. Cant wait!
Abdul Qudus DET- U.S.Central Command
Four pacers would have been enough as no more than three play in a one-day match. Five have been selected. Instead a batsman, such as, Fawwad Alam should have been the obvious choice. The selectors have erred and no one knows why?
Where is abdul razzaq?
why not entered the sohail tenvir in the icc world cup 2015
Fawad Alam has been unjustly dropped. He is not only having a good form but he also has a fighting instinct. Fawad can also bowl a few overs here & there & he is definitely a very good fielder. He should have been included in place of Sohaib Maqsood who is nowhere as talented as he is boosted to be. Those who call him second Inzi, either don't know the class of Inzi or have no understanding of the game. Sohaib only plays cross batted shots & has no real fighting spirit. Moreover, inclusion of Ehsan Adil & Sohail Khan is very surprising. Hopefully, they prove the selectors right through their performances out there.
Why is Hafeez still there ?
Come on! I swear!
Exclusion of Shoaib Malik and Kamran Akmal is the best news of new year. Except Younus Khan, no other player is world class and he too has passed his prime. All others are average class, therefore inclusion or exclusion of one individual would make no difference.
Shoaib malik has shown great performance playing for hobart hurricanes in BIG BASH !! then y was he left out ??
wahab riaz,the RUN MACHINE(for the opposition)
and now the question arises..WHO IS SOHAIL KHAN??
Too many batters, one should be dropped to give more strength to bowling !
This is the weakest Pak team I've ever seen for a WC. What's Wahab good for by the way?
Playing XI for WC
Muhammad Hafeezwho will be the sixth bowler in the XI if Hafeez fails to get his action cleared in Brisbane OR If one or two bowlers leak runs then who else will bowl 10 or 15 overs
Ahmed Shehzad Umar Akmal Misbahul Haq (capt) Haris Sohail Younus Khan Sarfraz Ahmed Shahid Afridi Muhammad Irfan Junaid Khan Yasir Shah (Can play in Adelaide and Napier Matches conducive for spin)Sohaib Maqsood (Just one back-up batsman)
Ehsan Adil Sohail Khan (3 back-up bowlers) Wahab Riaz
Inclusion of Wahab Riaz, Hafeez and Younis is a big joke. Younis cannot play in ODIs at all. The last time when he made a century, the required rate was 9 and he made it at 5 just to cement his place in WC. Havent seen more selfish person than him
Hafeez has no place as a batsman only.
Gud luck Pakistan
It is a surprising selection in my view not to include Umar gul who knows better may be some injury prblm is with him coming on the selection of hafeez he will be the shining player throughout the tournament despite we will not see him with the kookaburra in hand another one iz the Shahzad in my opinion he will be the man of the tournament let's wait n watch take it as advance also let's hope better for the debutant leg spinner new to international circuit but he has recently done better in the series against kiwis n kangaroos hope better for him becoz all eyes on him be oz he will be in place of ajmal majician wewill be in lot of pressure mind it it not easy to fulfill the place of ajmal byy best of luck pakistan
How was Hafeez selected? Our selectors have noticed Hafeez performance in the UAE only . His average in one day internationals is 30 after playing 153 one day internationals (thanks to playing most of his matches on the flat wickets of UAE). His average against Australia is 17. He would struggle on the bouncy wickets.
That it very good and balanced squad.finally we got a good combination of young and seniors players and finally time wasting and balls wasting players are not in squad.good moin khan and PCB.
Just an OK squad ! Fawad in place of Younis was better but still all the best to team Pakistan. I don't have too much hopes ...
Pak cricket has down to its lowest level as even the pace attack which was used to be dangerous is now looking very week. We can only expect from Irfan who is poor in fielding.
Aboslutely balanced squad only worry if Hafeez cant bowl then its a gamble to select him on basis of his batting
not sure about how strong the pace atack is..fawad alam left out again..hopeful he gets his chance to perform for pakistan after the retirement of misbah and younus..best of luck team pakistan for world cup..
Anwar Ali and Bilawal bhatti should have been picked.
Player who haven't played a single ODI since the last world cup has been recalled for this world cup. what a selection !!!
Where is Fawad?
not sure about the strength of pace attack selected..fawad alam left out again..hopeful he gets his chance to perform for pakistan after the retirement of misbah and younus after the world cup.. :)
Good for the team that we have got good pace attack. Do we have only two spinners?
Looks balanced despite the inclusion of big "Parchi" - Wahab Riaz
Balanced squad. Good luck!