RAWALPINDI: Lanky Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Irfan is all but certain to miss out the Asia Cup and the ICC World Twenty20 when the national selection committee is slated to unveil the squads for the two events in Bangladesh on Friday.

Irfan is suffering from a recurrence of the hip injury that cut short his international career during the series against South Africa when he failed to complete his second over in the final Twenty20 International in Dubai on Nov 15.

Since then the 31-year-old, who has played four Tests, 27 One-day Internationals and seven Twenty20 Internationals, has only managed to play three domestic matches including two in the ongoing T20 Cup.

Irfan came off the field during Tuesday’s fixture against Rawalpindi Rams without bowling the fourth over after pulling up while fielding. He was immediately sent to the National Cricket Academy in Lahore where the PCB’s medical committee is assessing his injury.

Azhar Khan, who is heading the selection committee after the unceremonious exit of Aamir Sohail last Monday, told Dawn that despite lack of time, the selectors will come up with balanced squads of players for the two tournaments.

“Obviously we have virtually no time left but we are optimistic that the squads to be selected will be the strongest possible line-ups. We have been holding regular meetings with all the stakeholders since we arrived here,” Azhar said.

“Saleem Jaffer and Farrukh Zaman have been part of the [selection] committee for a long time and together we had fruitful discussions with both Misbah-ul-Haq and Mohammad Hafeez who have given their invaluable inputs.

“So hopefully Pakistan will have best possible squads in the current scenario. Everybody knows that before finalising the squads there is extensive debate before a consensus is developed so that everyone is on the same page.

“Our philosophy on selection matters is simple: continuity and merit. And we have always adhered to this policy despite reservations expressed in some quarters. It is not [humanly] possible to keep everybody happy. In my view the selectors are generally under pressure in this situation because our job is to do justice for the sake of Pakistan cricket,” Azhar added.

He lamented there are times when the selectors receive unfair comments for no reason both in the media and by horde of former players.

“Sadly, this is a fact of life. When the national team do well the credit is never given to the selectors who have a hard task to deal with. But in times of setbacks, the entire blame is put on the selectors who are held responsible for the losses,” he remarked.

Pakistan, who will defend their Asia Cup title won under Misbah in Dhaka just two years ago, would probably bank on the majority of squad that sealed the ODI series against Sri Lanka in December.

Asad Shafiq, who didn’t get a game in that series, is under pressure to hold onto his spot with the in-form Fawad Alam emerging as a likely contender to merit a recall after an outstanding domestic season.

The left-handed Fawad, who has been out of the national side since the series against South Africa in late 2010, had been in scintillating form for National Bank of Pakistan and was the highest run-getter in the President’s Cup one-day competition with 438 runs at an average of 87.60.

Likely 15-man squads:

Asia Cup: Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Mohammad Hafeez (vice-captain), Ahmed Shehzad, Sharjeel Khan, Sohaib Maqsood, Azhar Ali, Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Sarfraz Ahmed, Bilawal Bhatti, Anwar Ali, Saeed Ajmal, Abdur Rehman, Junaid Khan, Sohail Tanvir.

World Twenty20: Mohammad Hafeez (captain), Ahmed Shehzad, Sharjeel Khan, Sohaib Maqsood, Umar Akmal (wicket-keeper), Shahid Afridi, Bilawal Bhatti, Anwar Ali, Umar Gul, Junaid Khan, Saeed Ajmal, Zulfiqar Babar, Sohail Tanvir, Haris Sohail.