LAHORE: Pakistan’s build-up to this year’s T20 World Cup has started with the newly-formed selection committee spoilt for choice.

Among the 29 probables that it named on Monday for the national side’s fitness camp – which starts Tuesday at the Pakistan Military Academy in Kakul – were veterans Imad Wasim and Mohammad Amir, both having rescinded their respective international retirements in the past two days.

Boosting Pakistan’s options further, United Arab Emirates-based Usman Khan – who was understood to be seeking a career with the UAE national team as a Pakistani ex patriot -- was also called up for the camp, set up for the national side’s preparation for the upcoming five-match Twenty20 International series against New Zealand.

“The camp will focus on team building and aims to enhance the physical and mental strength of the players, ensuring they [players] are in the best

condition to face the challenges ahead,” read a PCB statement. “Under the guidance of experienced trainers and coaches, the players will undergo a comprehensive training regime tailored to elevate their fitness levels, agility, leadership and strategic thinking and overall performance on the field.”

While pacer Amir was impressive in the recently-concluded Pakistan Super League, all-rounder Imad and Usman were exceptional. Despite starting slow after his move to Islamabad United from Karachi Kings this season, Imad was declared man-of-the-match in the last three games of the tournament, taking a five-wicket haul and playing a crucial hand with the bat to win the final for United.

Usman, meanwhile, was the second-highest run-maker in the tournament with 430 runs at a staggering average of 107.50 for runners-up Multan Sultans, fueling speculations over the possibility of him giving up his UAE dream and reconsidering Pakistan years after he had left his home country citing lack of opportunity at the top level.

The eye-catching performances of both Amir, Imad and Usman coincided with the arrival of Mohsin Naqvi as the new chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, who apparently played a key role in bringing the trio to the table and convincing them to declare their availability for the country by addressing their respective concerns.

The PCB management has also healed ties with pacer Haris Rauf by reinstating his central contract, which was cancelled two months ago following the express right-armer’s alleged refusal to play in Pakistan’s three-match Test series against Australia late last year.

Haris’ name is also among the probables for the Kakul camp as he recovers from a shoulder injury, which he picked up during the PSL.

Test batters Salman Ali Agha and Saud Shakeel have also been called up on the basis of their decent show in the franchise T20 league. Meanwhile, spinner Mehran Mumtaz has also earned his first call-up to a national camp after rising through the ranks in domestic First Class and white-ball cricket, so has batter Irfan Khan Niazi.

The PCB is yet to name a head coach for the national team, while there are doubts over pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi’s future as the side’s T20 skipper. When the coach and captain are finalised, they will also complete a seven-member selection committee along with a data analyst by joining former Test players Wahab Riaz, Asad Shafiq, Mohammad Yousuf and Abdul Razzaq, who were appointed on the committee on Monday.

After hosting New Zealand in Rawalpindi and Lahore in April-May, Pakistan are scheduled to visit Ireland and England for respective T20 series against both sides before flying to Dallas, where they will open their T20 World Cup campaign.

The T20 showpiece is set to be staged in the United States and the West Indies in June.

Probables: Aamer Jamal, Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Haseebullah, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Irfan Khan Niazi, Mehran Mumtaz, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usama Mir, Usman Khan, Zaman Khan

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2024