Rookies Babar, Imad get maiden ODI call ups
Shehzad inducted, Umar Akmal and Mukhtar snubbed
Pakistani spinner Shoaib Malik (2R) celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Zimbabwe batsman Hamilton Masakadza during the second and final International T20 cricket match between Pakistan and Zimbabwe at the Gaddafi Cricket Stadium in Lahore on May 24, 2015. PHOTO: AFP
LAHORE:
The national selection committee, led by Haroon Rasheed, recalled fast-bowler Mohammad Sami, all-rounder Shoaib Malik and batsman Ahmed Shehzad for the ODI series against Zimbabwe which begins on Tuesday.
Sami was part of the two-match T20I series as well, and picked up three wickets in the first match and one scalp in the second, but remained relatively expensive, while Malik got the nod despite putting up an average display in the T20Is.
Shehzad played well in the series as he scored a half-century in the first match and was duly called back after being discarded from the ODI squad after the World Cup on disciplinary grounds.
Rookie Babar Azam was included for the first time in the one-day squad, while Sami Aslam was axed.
Additionally, Hammad Azam was finally able to make a comeback as Pakistan’s search for a genuine all-rounder continues, which forced the selection committee to include Imad Wasim as well.
Umar Akmal was yet again snubbed in the ODIs and he will now head to the UK to participate in the T20 Blast, while Mukhtar Ahmed was not named in the ODI squad despite bagging consecutive man-of-the-match awards and also being named as the man of the series in the T20Is.
Squad
Azhar Ali (Captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Shoaib Malik, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Sarfraz Ahmed, Anwar Ali, Hammad Azam, Immad Wasim, Yasir Shah, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Sami and Junaid Khan.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 25th, 2015.
The national selection committee, led by Haroon Rasheed, recalled fast-bowler Mohammad Sami, all-rounder Shoaib Malik and batsman Ahmed Shehzad for the ODI series against Zimbabwe which begins on Tuesday.
Sami was part of the two-match T20I series as well, and picked up three wickets in the first match and one scalp in the second, but remained relatively expensive, while Malik got the nod despite putting up an average display in the T20Is.
Shehzad played well in the series as he scored a half-century in the first match and was duly called back after being discarded from the ODI squad after the World Cup on disciplinary grounds.
Rookie Babar Azam was included for the first time in the one-day squad, while Sami Aslam was axed.
Additionally, Hammad Azam was finally able to make a comeback as Pakistan’s search for a genuine all-rounder continues, which forced the selection committee to include Imad Wasim as well.
Umar Akmal was yet again snubbed in the ODIs and he will now head to the UK to participate in the T20 Blast, while Mukhtar Ahmed was not named in the ODI squad despite bagging consecutive man-of-the-match awards and also being named as the man of the series in the T20Is.
Squad
Azhar Ali (Captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Shoaib Malik, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Sarfraz Ahmed, Anwar Ali, Hammad Azam, Immad Wasim, Yasir Shah, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Sami and Junaid Khan.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 25th, 2015.