LAHORE: The Inzamam-ul-Haq led national selection committee is expected to announce the Pakistan squad for the upcoming tour to Zimbabwe on Friday after four key players go through a fitness test.

Pakistan will be involved in a tri-nation series along with Zimbabwe and Australia from July 1 to 8 before they take on the hosts in a five-match One-day International series from July 13 to 22.

Leg-spinner Yasir Shah, middle-order batsman Babar Azam, left-arm spin all-rounder Imad Wasim and pacer Rumman Raees all are on injury list and have been called up for fitness tests on Friday.

Yasir was facing hip injury, which forced him to skip Pakistan’s tour to England, Ireland and Scotland. Babar fractured his arm during the England tour, while Imad and Rumman are also struggling with fitness problems for the last couple of months.

Opening batsman Ahmad Shahzad, who was tested positive in a doping test conducted in an Indian lab recently, will not retain his place in the T20 squad.

However, a review board of the Pakistan Anti-doping Agency will decide Ahmad’s fate after Pakis­tan Cricket Board’s (PCB) suggestion.

All-rounder Muhammad Hafeez is likely to get a place in the One-day side but not in the T20 squad. There are reports that the selectors may pick youngster Sahibzada Farhan in place of Ahmad.

Head coach Mickey Arthur has also reached Lahore to personally monitor the fitness test of the four players before he takes part in a consultation session with the selectors to give the team a final shape.

Published in Dawn, June 22nd, 2018

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