LAHORE: As many as seven changes were made to a 16-member national Twenty20 squad the Inzamam-ul-Haq-headed selection committee announced on Thursday for the Independence Cup series against the ICC World XI in Lahore next month.

The three-match series will be staged here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Sept 12, 13 and 15.

The ICC on Thursday announced its 14-member squad for the above-mentioned event to be led by South African Test captain Faf du Plessis.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Sarfraz Ahmed, under whose captaincy Pakistan won the ICC Champions Trophy in June this year, will lead the national team in the series.

Left-handed Fakhar Zaman, who rose to prominence in the Champions Trophy after cracking a magnificent match-winning century in the final against India, has been included in the squad. The opener is expected to make his T20 International debut.

Out-of-form Ahmed Shehzad is also in as opener. Tried and tested middle-order batsman Umar Amin has been given another chance while all-rounder Faheem Ashraf, Aamir Yamin, Mohammad Amir and Usman Shinwari and Sohail Khan, who were not included in the last T20 series against West Indies held in March this year, are also in the fray.

It may be mentioned here that pace spearhead Amir was given rest from that series to keep him fit for the ODI and Test series against the West Indies.

The axed players include pacers Wahab Riaz, Sohail Tanvir and batsmen Kamran Akmal, Sharjeel Khan, Khalid Latif, wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan and all-rounder Saad Nasim.

The team’s middle-order will include Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik and Umar. Skipper Sarfraz, known for his gritty strokeplay, boosts the batting department.

In pace bowling department, in-form Mohammad Amir and fast-improving Hasan Ali will be joined by right-armer Sohail Khan, who is staging another comeback in the team.

Rumman Raees, Usman Shinwari and all-rounder Faheem complete the fast bowling line-up.

Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan and Imad Wasim form the spin department.

Commenting on the squad, chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq said playing conditions and recent performance were the main factors.

“The team [for World XI series] has been selected keeping in mind the playing conditions and the recent performances displayed by some cricketers in domestic and international competitions,” Inzamam said in a media statement.

“The [selected] squad is a fine blend of youth and senior players. Faheem, Rumman and Aamer Yamin have been chosen due to their splendid performance in domestic tournaments while Sohail has made a comeback.

Squad: Sarfraz Ahmed (captain, wicket-keeper), Fakhar Zaman, Ahmed Shehzad, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Umar Amin, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Aamer Yamin, Mohammad Amir, Rumman Raees, Usman Shinwari, Sohail Khan.

Published in Dawn, August 26th, 2017