Shehzad, Umar recalled for SL T20 series

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Shehzad, Umar recalled for SL T20 series

The Newspaper's Sports Reporter Published October 3, 2019

Ahmed Shehzad, 27, last featured in a T20 International in June 2018 against Scotland while Umar Akmal’s last appearance in the same format was in September 2016 against West Indies. — PSL/File

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LAHORE: Pakistan on Wednesday recalled opener Ahmed Shehzad and middle-order batsman Umar Akmal for the three-match Twenty20 International homes series against Sri Lanka starting on Saturday in Lahore.

The 16-member squad was announced for the T20 games being held at the Gaddafi Stadium. The second and third matches of the series will be played on Oct 7 and 9.

National team head coach-cum-chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq had already said that both Shehzad and Umar would be part of the T20 series when he announced the team for the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka.

Shehzad, 27, last featured in a T20 International in June 2018 against Scotland while Umar’s last appearance in the same format was in September 2016 against West Indies.

If selected in the final XI, it will be the first time Shehzad will play for Pakistan since a four-month ban for a failed dope test last year. The ban was extended by six weeks after the batsman violated rules by playing club matches despite the ban. Shehzad has so far played 57 T20 Internationals scoring 1,454 runs at the average of 26.43.

The 29-year-old Umar, known for his chequered discipline record, has played 82 T20 Internationals in which he accumulated 1,690 runs at 26.82.

Young all-rounder Faheem Ashraf also made a comeback for the game’s shortest format. Faheem last featured in a T20 International against England at Cardiff in May this year.

Opener Abid Ali and wicket-keeper Rizwan Ahmed who were part of the three-game ODI series against Sri Lanka in Karachi, failed to get a place in the team. Right-handed Abid, who was given a chance in the last ODI against Sri Lanka played at Karachi’s National Stadium on Wednesday, struck a fine 74.

Meanwhile, left-handed opener Imam-ul-Haq has been dropped from the T20 squad on fitness grounds.

“Imam has been left out of the T20 side due to an injury in his left-hand, which he sustained while fielding in the second ODI against Sri Lanka on Monday. He is also unavailable for selection for the third ODI on Wednesday,” a PCB press release stated.

Squad:

Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Babar Azam (vice-captain), Ahmed Shehzad, Asif Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Umar Akmal, Usman Shinwari, Wahab Riaz.

Published in Dawn, October 3rd, 2019

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Hashim

Oct 03, 2019 10:17am

Haris Sohail and Wahab Riaz should not have been selected for T20s

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musheer

Oct 03, 2019 10:51am

How many times this two guy are tested and tried but the results same with 30 runs

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syed

Oct 03, 2019 11:04am

quality and good attitude, reasons for selection!! as per Misbah

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FHB

Oct 03, 2019 11:06am

Terrible decision to include them in the team. Both these players have been tried & tested and proved usless. Pakistan needs to look ahead and there are many capable players in the ranks.

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fahimkhalil

Oct 03, 2019 11:12am

How many chances you will give to Umar Akmal & Shahzad , they proved to be extremely non-serious , non-professional players.. Please please dont spent Tax payers money on these two failed players... Give chance to young players who are talented , hardworking and wants to be world class players.. Misbah is favoring his friends on the shoulders of poor people taxes...

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Pak-UK

Oct 03, 2019 11:42am

Well deserved.

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Mike

Oct 03, 2019 11:44am

Cannot wait for Nasir Jamshed! Misbah should also Play in The Team,that way he can collect one more Paycheck!

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Jalal

Oct 03, 2019 02:30pm

Umar akmal has been tried and tested numerous times but failed. Misbah please come out of this old thinking and give youngsters some chance

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Oct 03, 2019 03:28pm

back ward step selecting Shehzad and Umar. Obviously Misbah favorites.

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Crystal Clear

Oct 03, 2019 06:59pm

@musheer, This is their last chance.

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Syed Hafeez Imran

Oct 03, 2019 07:57pm

@syed, attitude!!!??both Ahmed shehzad an Umar akmal have been showing a bad attitude and indiscipline

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Syed Hafeez Imran

Oct 03, 2019 07:57pm

@Mike, yes, make him the captain and maybe also an umpire and while at it the groundsman too

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JackJones

Oct 03, 2019 09:52pm

Having enormous talent is of NO use if you CANNOT perform. Umar Akmal and Ahmed Shahzad have been provided plenty of opportunities but unfortunately they have failed miserably. To be fortunate enough to represent Pakistan requires a lot of responsibility and commitment and neither one of them has that. I will trust Misbah with his selection but please after this do not give them any more chances.

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Khan

Oct 03, 2019 11:04pm

Seriously, Misbah could not find anyone else that he had to bring these two players back in team. Repeating the same process again and expecting different results?!

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Syed Hafeez Imran

Oct 03, 2019 11:10pm

Is this the forerunner of how things are going to go with the super Misbah in charge - both as chief selector and head coach, By the way we are not doing full justice to him, He should also be made captain, umpire and why not even the groundsman. While at it even the Marketing director. the we will be sure that Pakistan will be # 1 in all formats Just imagine what wonders will happen. pakistan will be the # 1 team in all formats Even teams from other planets will be dying to visit Pakistan. just imagine, a team from Fiery Mars, from Seductive Venus, from mysterious Saturn, We will have to at least double the capacity of our stadiums. And the coffers of PCB will not only be full but overflowing,

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Syed Hafeez Imran

Oct 03, 2019 11:12pm

A batsman performs, scores a BIG half century and at a strike rate of over 110, and He shows his range of strokes, his confidence , temperament and how do we reward him. DROP him and punish him for performing,. How dare he do that Another batsman (Ahmed Shehzad) who was suspended for a using prohibited substance and we have seen his indiscipline and attitude and lack of fitness so many times and he is rewarded: His strike rate is also not in line with the demands of modern day cricket shorter formats Great work Another batsman with attitude and discipline problems (Umar Akmal) too is rewarded and selected; but at least he s a good strike rate. Would it also have better that he be also selected for the ODI where he will have more opportunity to score

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Syed Hafeez Imran

Oct 03, 2019 11:14pm

And now to bowling . A bowler who leaked 80 runs in his spell and is well past his prime is also favoured But this is reflective of the blinkered defensive mindset of Misbah Would it not have been better to give chances and try out younger players who have the talent and potential to serve Pakistan cricket in this series against Sri Lanka> there are so many talented and deserving youngsters, but we car seem to see beyond our nises and outside our blinkered view. By actually not visiting and seeing the players the armchair selector can never be aware of the talents that abound But this is PCB and only they can think of such retrogressive actions, Nobody else can even try to understand their logic

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Shami

Oct 03, 2019 11:21pm

@Hashim, you can't be more wrong. Wahab and haris are the best players in our team. Haris is 2nd best batsman in out team after babar azam. And wahab some time can bowl better then amir and usman.

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Shami

Oct 03, 2019 11:27pm

I use to think that these 2 player should be back but then i saw some great new players in psl. So its no pint to go back to old players who started there career good but couldn't keep it up for long. Worst decision pcb ever made was to appoint misbah. Now he is throwing our cricket back years. We dont need misbah. We dont need sarfraz. We dont need umar and shehzad.

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Amir burki

Oct 04, 2019 01:07am

Umra Akmals average comes to20.6 with the numbers you have shown and not 26. 43 as reported in the news

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Mike

Oct 04, 2019 03:26am

At what stage do you say,Okay these two "Fine Gentleman" have been given plenty of chances,let us try some new Players who are already in their 30's.It is called Misbah's Revenge,Inzi did not let him Play till He was in early 40's,so by late 50's He had to Retire.

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Dawn

Oct 04, 2019 08:35am

Good decision. Just keep Umar under close observation. And why Wahab Riaz?

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Hossain

Oct 04, 2019 11:51am

Umar Akmal is my favorite player but his activities is so bad.However love from Bangladesh.

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Oct 04, 2019 12:30pm

Why can't the PCB's chief selector cum head coach understand that tried, tested and spent cartridges oftentimes backfire too?

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