LAHORE: Misfiring Ahmed Shehzad and veteran pacer Umar Gul were dropped while uncapped youngsters Khurram Manzoor, Babar Azam, Mohammad Nawaz and Rumman Raees Khan were picked as the selectors on Wednesday named a 15-member squad for the high-profile World Twenty20 and Asia Cup T20 events.

The squad also includes an 11-member team management.

The axing of Shehzad was very much on the cards as the right-hander had failed to come out of his poor form with the bat, scoring 160 runs at a scanty average of 16.00 in his last 10 T20 International innings since May last year. The 24-year-old could post 46 as his highest score in these outings.

In a surprising move, the selectors brought in Khurram in place of misfiring Shehzad.

Interestingly, Khurram’s performance in T20s has not been too impressive. Khurram was not part of Pakistan ‘A’ team that played the T20 series against England Lions in the UAE recently. However, the right-hander was one of top run-getters of the one-day series for the ‘A’ side as he aggregates 193, averaging 48.25.

Gul was a notable omission as the veteran right-arm paceman could not impress the selectors in the recent T20 series in New Zealand. Though the 31-year-old, representing Quetta Gladiators in the ongoing Pakistan Super League, is the world’s second highest wicket-taker in T20 Internationals (85 scalps in 60 games), the lanky pacer has lost the sting lately as fitness issues hampered his return to international game.


Khurram Manzoor, Rumman Raees Babar Azam, Mohammad Nawaz picked


Sohaib Maqsood who failed to deliver in the New Zealand T20 series was also overlooked but Aamir Yamin and Saad Nasim, who were not tested in the said series, also couldn’t get the selectors’ nod.

Young guns Nawaz, Babar, Rumman and Iftikhar Ahmed were the significant inclusions.

All-rounder Nawaz from Rawalpindi caught the selectors’ attention as the 21-year-old showed glimpses of his talent for Quetta Gladiators in the PSL. So far, the slow left-arm spinner has claimed eight wickets in four matches at an excellent average of 11.50.

Right-handed Babar, yet to make T20 International debut, has earned his place for the two premier international T20 contests, as the budding batsman displayed guts in testing situations during the ODI leg on the recent New Zealand tour amassing two consecutive half-centuries. The player’s solid ODI batting average of 46.87, attained in nine outings, must also have worked in his favour.

Rumman of Karachi will be yet another left-arm fast bowler in the national squad besides Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz. He also fared well against England Lions recently in the UAE, capturing eight T20 wickets at 15.00. And though Islamabad United’s Rumman, 24, has been very economical in the PSL so far, he will certainly need to step up to face highly demanding challenges at the World T20 and Asia Cup events.

The two events will be a big test for Peshawar-born Iftikhar who played well for Pakistan ‘A’ scoring 146 runs against England.

Irfan staged a comeback after missing the series against New Zealand.

Meanwhile, chief selector Haroon Rasheed said all stakeholders were taken onboard in picking the squad.

“While selecting the squad, the team management and skipper were consulted by the selectors, and all concerned gave their consent in this regard,” Haroon said.

The Asia Cup is scheduled to be held in Bangladesh from Feb 24 to March 6, while the World T20 will be hosted by in India from March 8 to April 3. Interestingly, so far the Pakistan government has not given the permission to the PCB to send the team to India on security grounds.

Squad:

Shahid Afridi (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Sarfraz Ahmed (vice-captain/wicket-keeper), Babar Azam, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Anwar Ali, Mohammad Irfan, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Nawaz, Khurram Manzoor, Rumman Raees Khan.

Officials:

Intikhab Alam (manager); Waqar Younis (head coach); Mushtaq Ahmed (spin bowling coach); Grant Flower (batting coach); Grant Luden (fielding coach-cum-trainer, for World Cup only); Yasir Malik (trainer, for Asia Cup only); Dr Sohail Saleem (physio); Shahid Aslam (assistant manager); Col. Azam Khan (security manager); Agha Akbar (media manager); Talha Ejaz (analyst); Malang Ali (masseur).

Published in Dawn, February 11th, 2016

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