Squads announced: Wahab, Sohaib’s injury nightmares end
Imran Jr added to T20 side for Zimbabwe after impressing in domestic cup.
Wahab, Sohaib and Imran Jr will all be hoping to impress in the T20s against Zimbabwe in order to cement their spot in the side for the upcoming World Twenty20 in India. PHOTOS: AFP/APP
KARACHI:
Left-arm pacer Wahab Riaz and middle-order batsman Sohaib Maqsood have returned to Pakistan’s T20 and ODI squads for the tour of Zimbabwe after recovering from their injuries, while Imran Khan Jr has also been selected for the two T20Is after impressing in the recently concluded National T20.
Wahab suffered a fracture in his bowling arm after being hit by a Dhammika Prasad-bouncer in the Test series against Sri Lanka, while Sohaib has been out of the side with a wrist fracture since the World Cup; missing three consecutive series against Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.
The selection committee, led by Haroon Rasheed, has finally inducted Imran — who has been outstanding in last two years with his slow variations and left-arm medium pacers. He is not the quickest around, but his subtle variations have outfoxed the best in the country on more occasions than one.
In addition, all-rounder Aamer Yamin has earned a maiden call-up after Anwar Ali was ruled out of the shortest format with a groin injury, while opener Nauman Anwar has been dropped.
Wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed will miss the T20Is against Zimbabwe as he will be performing Hajj, along with fellow cricketers Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq. Mohammad Rizwan is set to take up duties behind the stumps in Sarfraz’s absence.
Meanwhile, all-rounder Haris Sohail has failed to recover from his knee injury.
Haroon said that the selection committee kept a few key points in mind while selecting the squads. Retaining the majority of the players who were part of the successful tour to Sri Lanka in order to ensure continuity, awarding the players who impressed during the National T20 tournament, and the reintegration of injured players were all considered.
“Anwar has been rested for the T20 series against Zimbabwe due to groin strain but will join the team for the ODI series after his rehabilitation finishes at the National Cricket Academy, while Sarfraz will not be a part of the T20 squad,” confirmed Haroon.
Squad for England Tests announced
The PCB has also announced the Test squad for the England series and left-handed middle-order batsman Fawad Alam has been brought in to replace Haris.
“In light of skipper Misbahul Haq recommendations, we have kept the option of a 16th player in the Test squad against England. We have selected two left-arm spinners in Zafar Gohar and Mohammad Asghar for the two practice games against England prior to the Test matches in the UAE; whoever of the two performs well would be added to the Test squad,” said Haroon. “Some promising youngsters have been recommended to be included in the Pakistan camp for the Zimbabwe tour to be held from the September 17 to 20 in Lahore.”
These players include Rumman Raees, Junaid Khan, Mir Hamza, Hassan Ali, Ziaul Haq, Zafar Gohar, Mohammad Asghar, Iftikhar Ahmed and Faisal Mubashir.
Squads
T20Is v Zimbabwe
Shahid Afridi (c)
Mohammad Rizwan (wk)
Mohammad Hafeez
Ahmed Shehzad
Mukhtar Ahmed
Umar Akmal
Sohaib Maqsood
Shoaib Malik
Aamer Yamin
Mohammad Irfan
Bilal Asif
Wahab Riaz
Imad Wasim
Sohail Tanvir
Imran Khan Jr
ODIs v Zimbabwe
Azhar Ali (c)
Sarfraz Ahmed (wk)
Mohammad Hafeez
Ahmed Shehzad
Sohaib Maqsood
Shoaib Malik
Babar Azam
Mohammad Rizwan
Immad Wasim
Anwar Ali
Wahab Riaz
Yasir Shah
Rahat Ali
Mohammad Irfan
Asad Shafiq
Tests v England
Misbahul Haq (c)
Sarfraz Ahmed (wk)
Ahmed Shehzad
Shan Masood
Azhar Ali
Mohammad Hafeez
Fawad Alam
Asad Shafiq
Younis Khan
Yasir Shah
Zulfiqar Babar
Wahab Riaz
Imran Khan
Rahat Ali
Junaid Khan
Published in The Express Tribune, September 17th, 2015.
Left-arm pacer Wahab Riaz and middle-order batsman Sohaib Maqsood have returned to Pakistan’s T20 and ODI squads for the tour of Zimbabwe after recovering from their injuries, while Imran Khan Jr has also been selected for the two T20Is after impressing in the recently concluded National T20.
Wahab suffered a fracture in his bowling arm after being hit by a Dhammika Prasad-bouncer in the Test series against Sri Lanka, while Sohaib has been out of the side with a wrist fracture since the World Cup; missing three consecutive series against Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.
The selection committee, led by Haroon Rasheed, has finally inducted Imran — who has been outstanding in last two years with his slow variations and left-arm medium pacers. He is not the quickest around, but his subtle variations have outfoxed the best in the country on more occasions than one.
In addition, all-rounder Aamer Yamin has earned a maiden call-up after Anwar Ali was ruled out of the shortest format with a groin injury, while opener Nauman Anwar has been dropped.
Wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed will miss the T20Is against Zimbabwe as he will be performing Hajj, along with fellow cricketers Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq. Mohammad Rizwan is set to take up duties behind the stumps in Sarfraz’s absence.
Meanwhile, all-rounder Haris Sohail has failed to recover from his knee injury.
Haroon said that the selection committee kept a few key points in mind while selecting the squads. Retaining the majority of the players who were part of the successful tour to Sri Lanka in order to ensure continuity, awarding the players who impressed during the National T20 tournament, and the reintegration of injured players were all considered.
“Anwar has been rested for the T20 series against Zimbabwe due to groin strain but will join the team for the ODI series after his rehabilitation finishes at the National Cricket Academy, while Sarfraz will not be a part of the T20 squad,” confirmed Haroon.
Squad for England Tests announced
The PCB has also announced the Test squad for the England series and left-handed middle-order batsman Fawad Alam has been brought in to replace Haris.
“In light of skipper Misbahul Haq recommendations, we have kept the option of a 16th player in the Test squad against England. We have selected two left-arm spinners in Zafar Gohar and Mohammad Asghar for the two practice games against England prior to the Test matches in the UAE; whoever of the two performs well would be added to the Test squad,” said Haroon. “Some promising youngsters have been recommended to be included in the Pakistan camp for the Zimbabwe tour to be held from the September 17 to 20 in Lahore.”
These players include Rumman Raees, Junaid Khan, Mir Hamza, Hassan Ali, Ziaul Haq, Zafar Gohar, Mohammad Asghar, Iftikhar Ahmed and Faisal Mubashir.
Squads
T20Is v Zimbabwe
Shahid Afridi (c)
Mohammad Rizwan (wk)
Mohammad Hafeez
Ahmed Shehzad
Mukhtar Ahmed
Umar Akmal
Sohaib Maqsood
Shoaib Malik
Aamer Yamin
Mohammad Irfan
Bilal Asif
Wahab Riaz
Imad Wasim
Sohail Tanvir
Imran Khan Jr
ODIs v Zimbabwe
Azhar Ali (c)
Sarfraz Ahmed (wk)
Mohammad Hafeez
Ahmed Shehzad
Sohaib Maqsood
Shoaib Malik
Babar Azam
Mohammad Rizwan
Immad Wasim
Anwar Ali
Wahab Riaz
Yasir Shah
Rahat Ali
Mohammad Irfan
Asad Shafiq
Tests v England
Misbahul Haq (c)
Sarfraz Ahmed (wk)
Ahmed Shehzad
Shan Masood
Azhar Ali
Mohammad Hafeez
Fawad Alam
Asad Shafiq
Younis Khan
Yasir Shah
Zulfiqar Babar
Wahab Riaz
Imran Khan
Rahat Ali
Junaid Khan
Published in The Express Tribune, September 17th, 2015.