Akmal, Asad return to ODI squad as PCB announces 16-man lineup for Windies series

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Akmal, Asad return to ODI squad as PCB announces 16-man lineup for Windies series

Dawn Sport Published September 25, 2016

LAHORE: Chief Selector Inzamam-ul-Haq on Sunday finalised the 16-member One Day International (ODI) team for three ODIs against the West Indies to be played in the United Arab Emirates starting Sept 30.

PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan said Azhar Ali will remain skipper and Sarfraz Ahmad will be vice captain.

The new lineup sees batsmen Umar Akmal and Asad Shafiq making a comeback to the ODI squad.

Akmal, 26, was sidelined for 18 months over disciplinary problems and played the last of his 111 ODIs in March during the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Negative comments about Akmal's behaviour by former head coach Waqar Younis and ex-manager Intikhab Alam almost derailed his career. He was recalled to the Twenty20 squad earlier this month after being passed over for five months.

The last ODI Asad played for Pakistan was against Zimbabwe in October 2015 in Harare. The middle-order batsman has scored 1,318 runs in ODIs at an average of 25.34 while batting in the middle-order, and has expressed his willingness to bat at any position for the team.

Pakistan will play three ODIs against the West Indies on Sept 30 and Oct 2 in Sharjah, and Oct 5 in Abu Dhabi.

"While picking the squad, the team management and skipper were consulted and all concerned gave their consent in this regard," said a Pakistan Cricket Board statement.

The squad includes: Azhar Ali (Captain), Sarfraz Ahmed (Vice Captain), Sharjeel Khan, Babar Azam, Asad Shafiq, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Mohammad Rizwan, Muhammad Nawaz, Imad Wasim, Yasir Shah, Rahat Ali, Muhammad Amir, Wahab Riaz, Hasan Ali and Sohail Khan.

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M Mohiuzzaman

Sep 25, 2016 01:35pm

Again no news for J khan F Alam and H Sohail......

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hani

Sep 25, 2016 01:38pm

why will Mr. Azhar will remain skipper for the series ?? What did he do as a captain and as a batsman in the team?? come on selectors

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Shoka Laddoo

Sep 25, 2016 01:43pm

Last chance for azhar Ali

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SAEED MASOOD

Sep 25, 2016 01:49pm

A great come back in ODI is long awaited...it is now time to do it... all these players are very good...except Wahab Riaz should not be given the last overs...

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Salman Lone

Sep 25, 2016 01:53pm

Fawad Alam is still not being considered despite being one of the top performers in the domestic tournaments.

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Nabeell

Sep 25, 2016 01:55pm

Khalid Latif has done enough to qualify for ODI & Rizwan would have been replaced to keep the opening pair of T20 to carry on. Inclusion of Asad Shafiq is the best part of this selection he has waited alot and i believe he will live upto the expectations of not only selectors but also his Coach!

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Osama

Sep 25, 2016 02:02pm

An aggressive form of ODI cricket, which micky is pushing for, might help Asad Shafiq get out of his shell and perform like the classy batsman he is. He showed this in the National t20 tournament with a lot runs and a great strike rate.

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A Pakistani _Ireland

Sep 25, 2016 02:03pm

Where is khalid Latif????He is better one day player then Asad Shafiq & Azher Ali

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Mirza Karamat Baig

Sep 25, 2016 02:05pm

Good that Hafeez is not brought back, should have considered upon selection of Khaled Latif as he is showing consistency at international level to further utilize power play through attacking shots.

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Sep 25, 2016 02:06pm

Best of luck to the green-shirts in the three ODI matches against the West Indies at various venues and neutral land of United Arab Emirates. My message for all of them at this crucial juncture in time and history is to "keep it up and hang on tough." May God Almighty bless you all. Aameen, Tsum Aameen.

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anees from zaida

Sep 25, 2016 02:07pm

If Umar Akmal/Shoaib Malik, why not Fawad Alam? If Rahat Ali, why not Junaid Khan?

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Bangush

Sep 25, 2016 02:14pm

Still no Fawad Alam!!

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Ali jee

Sep 25, 2016 02:14pm

@anees from zaida why not Afridi

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Waleed

Sep 25, 2016 02:19pm

I don't think Sharjeel is a player for ODIs, another youngster should be invested for the future.

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kabir

Sep 25, 2016 02:21pm

still no khalid latif in oneday squad.......poor selection

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Pappu

Sep 25, 2016 02:26pm

aamir yamin,Fawad Alam & Sadaf Hussain in place of Rahat ali , Asad Shafiq & yasir shah if Selected. Team Look Much stronger

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zee

Sep 25, 2016 02:39pm

A Average for a batsnan of 25isnt it time we moved on. Umar akmal shoaib have poor aver ages too. Why not fawad domestic average 50+ that is the question this why we are ranked 9 best player in pakistan not selected best captain demoted to vice captain

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Ramiz

Sep 25, 2016 02:53pm

Rules should be formed as per Ruhal committee advised? Qavi should be made manager of team.

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Pakistan

Sep 25, 2016 03:05pm

@Ali jee please not again afridi.....we had enough of him already.....

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Shahid

Sep 25, 2016 03:08pm

This same pattern of selection continues which has left us at the bottom of the ranking list. Asad Shafiq is one of the best test players but has never ever succeeded in limited overs game. Even when his batting average is only 25 and strike rate is 67 - which is the lowest among Pakistan players who played ODIs in the modern history -, he has been given tens of chances, so much so that he has played not less than 58 one day matches without cementing his place in the squad.

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ALISID

Sep 25, 2016 03:46pm

Fawad Alam ditched again. Akmal is back. What's going on?

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Arju

Sep 25, 2016 03:55pm

F Alam is missing. I don't know whether H. Sohail is fit or not. If he fit then he should have included! One more point, Umar Akmal should give the opportunity to bat at no. 4 to prove his potential!!

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Qamar

Sep 25, 2016 04:33pm

It is very sad for competent Fawad Alam!! If his pile up of runs does not count for selection then what else poor guy has to do to prove he is deserved to represent national team??? I wish Mr Mickey Aurther some how read all these comments or know about his talent and eventually convince management to give poor guy a chance!!

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Saad Razzaq

Sep 25, 2016 05:14pm

Khalid Lateef is not included in squad and Azhar Ali retained as captain. Poor selection yet again. At best we are a mediocre team and the irony is that we have talented lads but they always get ignored

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Kamran

Sep 25, 2016 05:29pm

Khalid Latif and Fawad Alam should have been selected. Favoritism continues in Pakistan cricket.

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Sharif

Sep 25, 2016 06:33pm

Khalid Latif and Fawad Alam should be part of the selection. Fawad Alam is the most fit person according to foreign coach and he has score internationally and domestically time after time. His avergaeg docmestic score is among the highest in Pakistan cricket. Some says his technique is not good if that is the case why he is always making run. Who care how he plays as along as he is making run and winning the match for Pakistan. Shewag technique was also not very great and he prove to be one of the most dangerous player for the apponent team.

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Shamim

Sep 25, 2016 06:43pm

Selection of Asad Shafiq is a proof that Pakistan still in the mode of 90s era. Instead of picking him they should have picked one hard hitting batsman which is lacking in the current side.

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Imran

Sep 25, 2016 06:45pm

Remove Azhar as he is mot suitable for test team but not ODI and bring in Khlid Latif and Fawad Alam if PCB really want Pakistan to move to top position in ODI.

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terba

Sep 25, 2016 08:07pm

Why can't the Pakistani selectors see there is no merit in picking up Umar Akmal. He is not a 'talent' as he is officially dubbed. He is a burden on the team that needs to be avoided, for ever!

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Ayesha

Sep 25, 2016 08:37pm

Khalid latif???

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Zulfi

Sep 25, 2016 09:06pm

Instead of selecting 5 pacers (4 would have been enough for such a short ODI series), the selectors should have given chances to some new players ahead of the more testing tours of NZ (tests only) and Australia later this year Asad Shafiq (poor rotator of strike) has played 58 ODIs with a batting average of 25 and SR of 67, one of the lowest in the modern game. If someone cannot cement their place in a format despite playing that many games, it clearly suggests that their game is not suited to that format. By contrast Fawad who averages a very decent 40.25 after playing 38 ODIs (SR 74.47) still overlooked by the selectors. And where is Haris Sohail? averages 43 after 22 ODIs Last chance for Azhar Ali to prove himself as ODI captain.

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Zulfi

Sep 25, 2016 09:09pm

Babar Azam does a good job of building the innings. Pak surely cannot afford to play both Azhar and Asad in the same ODI XI. One or two consolidators are enough; the rest should all be attacking batsmen like Sharjeel (needs to work on his temperament though) and Umar Akmal or at least batsmen who are good at rotating the strike. Need to bin the old-fashioned 80s and 90s approach of batting over-cautiously initially and building a platform before going for a flourish in the late overs. Must learn to rotate the strike better from the outset.. Aamer Yamin is another promising cricketer who is being constantly overlooked by the selectors for some reason Aamer Yamin | Pakistan Cricket | Cricket Players and Officials | ESPN Cricinfo And just take a look at Sadaf Hussain's domestic bowling averages. Why has he not already played for Pakistan? Sadaf Hussain | Pakistan Cricket | Cricket Players and Officials | ESPN Cricinfo

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Khan70

Sep 25, 2016 09:28pm

So with Akmal who throws his wicket and Shafiq who bats slow like Azhar Ali and the captain in the squad, it will remain the weakest team at no 9. The team will not score 300+ runs.

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omer

Sep 25, 2016 09:35pm

Common selectors.. Fawad alam is the most deserving player.. do not waste him..Khuda ke lye give him a chance.

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Dawood ali UK

Sep 25, 2016 10:39pm

Again biased selection under Inzi, he is not justify for ignoring Junaid and Fawad Alam, Inzi you have to answer this biased and favor to other players.

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Ali Reza UK

Sep 25, 2016 10:45pm

Why Azhar ali ?????? why Azhar ????? who favor him and PIRchi for this failed captain, why NOT FAWAD and JUNAID ???? who recommended Azhar poor captain? ranking 9th PCB chairman and selection have beloved Azhar ?

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Salman

Sep 25, 2016 10:49pm

Khalid Lateer exclusion is a very disappointing selection!!

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sarwar

Sep 25, 2016 11:24pm

why rahat ali was not considered as opener after his performance in T20

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Optimist

Sep 25, 2016 11:33pm

Similar team to T-20, the only difference will be Azhar Ali in place of Khalid Latif and Rahat Ali in place of Sohail Tanvir.

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Yankee Cricket Fan

Sep 25, 2016 11:38pm

@Bangush Good god, will you guys stop whining about Fawad Alam? What did he do in his last three one day matches? Don't remember? Then let me remind you, in the three matches against BD, he scored 0, 1, and 2. Do you still think he deserves a spot on the team after that performance?

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AMK USA

Sep 25, 2016 11:38pm

@hani He has one major qualification that has nothing to do with performance or leadership quality. We all know what it is.

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LOUDSPEAKER

Sep 26, 2016 12:26am

Once again Pakistan Cricket selectors has created a mess by yielding to outside influence. First of all if one of the openers failed or injured, then who will open the innings. They should have included one more specialist opener in the squad. Secondly, our team is without any specialist right arm off spinner. Rahat is essentially a 5-day test bowler, he has no place in ODIs. ODIs will provide more time for West Indies to adjust themselves and I'm sure they will bounce back and give Pakistan some tough time in the ODIs.

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fas

Sep 26, 2016 12:56am

why u.akmal is in and Khalid latif is out.

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Real Mcoy

Sep 26, 2016 03:06am

Where the heck is Harris Sohail? Either him or Fawad Alam should have been selected instead of Asad or even Azhar. Now Pak will struggle to score even 250 on any type of pitch.

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Pakistani

Sep 26, 2016 08:46am

Well why not? We already are at the bottom. Let's try them.

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PAKISTAN FIRST

Sep 26, 2016 08:52am

So we exclude Khalid and Fawad , this is a SAD DAY IN PAKISTAN CRICKET HISTORY. No wonder we are failing in ODI and will continue to do so till we get rid of Azhar Ali and bring back two more quality batsman who has proven their worth over and over. We need to select Khalid Latif and Fawad Alam and get rid of Rahat Ali, Azhar Ali

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Whatacountry

Sep 26, 2016 02:03pm

What the whole nation sees this partially blind PCB does not! Azhar admits he can't take pressure. Only one man fits the bill skill wise and character wise and he is Imad Waseem.

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Ahmed Rana

Sep 26, 2016 03:22pm

@A Pakistani _Ireland ..... yes no doubt ... he is

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Ahmed Rana

Sep 26, 2016 03:22pm

Yes no doubt he is better than both of them.....

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D.K. PAMNANI

Sep 27, 2016 04:53pm

Why not Sahid Afridi. When he is in team, there are chances of winning. This experienced alrounder should not be avoided.

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