Shehzad was part of the one-day squad for the three-match series against Zimbabwe, which finished earlier this week, but did not play a game. PHOTO: AFP
LAHORE:
Maverick opener Ahmed Shehzad earned a recall on Wednesday in Pakistan’s 15-man Test squad for the three-match Test series in Sri Lanka after being sidelined over disciplinary problems.
The talented 23-year-old was not selected for the two Tests and three one-dayers in Bangladesh last month, only making the side for the one-off T20I.
The action came after the team management complained of his lack of discipline and attitude in the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, where Pakistan went out in the quarter-final.
Shehzad was part of the one-day squad for the three-match series against Zimbabwe which finished earlier this week — Pakistan’s first international series for six years at home — but did not play a game.
Chief selector Haroon Rasheed said Shehzad should have learned from his time out of the side. “I hope Shehzad has learned from his mistakes,” said Rasheed. “You can’t keep him out for cricketing reasons and if he doesn’t follow discipline as per the team’s regime, he will not keep his place.”
Misbahul Haq will lead the team with one-day captain Azhar Ali as his deputy.
Pakistan open the series with the first Test in Galle which starts on June 17.
The remaining two Tests will be in Colombo from June 25-29 and the third at Pallekele from July 3-7.
Pakistan and Sri Lanka will also play five one-dayers and two T20Is, for which squads will be announced later.
Also recalled to the side is opener Shan Masood, who scored a hundred on the Pakistan ‘A’ tour of Sri Lanka last month.
Rasheed said the squad is balanced. “While selecting the squad, the selection committee considered suitability to play in varied playing conditions, potential to perform at international level, current form and fitness,” he said.
Ajmal excluded after Bangladesh struggles
Ace spinner Saeed Ajmal is again missing from the team after he was seen struggling with his remodelled action on the tour of Bangladesh.
Ajmal will play county cricket in England to adjust with his action, deemed illegal in September last year and needed remodelling to get clearance.
Meanwhile, fast-bowlers Rahat Ali and Sohail Khan and batsman Sohaib Maqsood are yet to recover from their injuries and missed out on selection.
“Rahat Ali, Sohail Khan and Sohaib Maqsood are still on the rehab after sustaining injuries and it is hoped that they would be available for selection in the near future,” said Rasheed. “The selection committee has also kept its options open in case of need for the 16th member keeping in mind the extreme weather conditions in Sri Lanka.”
ODI squad: The chosen 15
Misbahul Haq (captain), Azhar Ali (vice-captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Shan Masood, Younus Khan, Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Sarfraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper), Yasir Shah, Zulfiqar Babar, Wahab Riaz, Junaid Khan, Imran Khan, Ehsan Adil
Published in The Express Tribune, June 4th, 2015.
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