LAHORE: Following its recommendation by the six-member selection committee headed by former captain Moin Khan, Chairman PCB Shaharyar M Khan has approved 14 and 16-member squads for the two T20 and the first two One Day Internationals (ODI) against New Zealand respectively.
The two T20s are scheduled for Dec 4 and 5 in Dubai, followed by the ODI series, with the first of the two contests slated for Dec. 8 at Dubai and the second on Dec 12 at Sharjah.
“Both the squads are well-balanced, with a decent blend of in-form batsmen and good all-rounders, with the bowling attack a potent mix of pace and spin combinations,” said chief selector Moin Khan.
“This is our final opportunity to test all our potential players before the ICC World Cup 2015. That is why we have tried to induct all our fit players in contention for a slot. This is also pretty much the last opportunity for the players to perform and cement their places in the World Cup squad,” said Khan.
“Quite a few players have been included either after returning from injury or on the basis of current form.
“In the ODI squad, Younis Khan has been recalled for the ODI squad due to his sparkling form. Similarly, Sarfraz Ahmed is featuring in a T20I for the first time. Young and promising Haris Sohail is also part of both squads, while Sohaib Maqsood was not considered on fitness grounds,” said the chief selector.
“Among our pace bowlers, Wahab Riaz and Umar Gul are making comebacks from injury to make the pace attack more potent,” he said.
Umar Gul has also been recalled to Pakistan's squad for the limited over series after struggling with a knee problem since last year.
T20 squad: Ahmed Shehzad, Anwar Ali, Mohammad Hafeez., Haris Sohail, Mohammad Irfan, Owais Zia, Raza Hasan, Saad Nasim, Sarfraz Ahmad (wicket-keeper), Shahid Afridi (Captain), Sohail Tanvir, Umar Akmal, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz
ODI squad: Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Asad Shafiq, Bilawal Bhatti, Haris Sohail, Misbah-ul-Haq (Captain), Mohammad Irfan, Nasir Jamshed, Sarfraz Ahmad (wicket-keeper), Shahid Afridi, Sohail Tanvir, Umar Akmal, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, Younis Khan, Zulfiqar Babar