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KARACHI: Pakistan recalled wicket-keeper batsman Kamran Akmal, all-rounder Abdul Razzaq and opener Imran Nazir in their 15-man squad on Tuesday for the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka.
Kamran, 30, was cleared by a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) integrity committee last week after his name was mentioned at the trial in England last year of three Pakistani Test players over spot-fixing allegations.
Former Test captain Salman Butt and pacemen Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer were banned and jailed for contriving deliberate no-balls during the Lord's Test against England in 2010.
Kamran last played for Pakistan in May last year in the semi-final of the World Cup against India, at Mohali, a match India won by 29 runs.
Razzaq, 32, last played against Sri Lanka in November 2011 while Nazir has not played since 2010.
Mohammad Hafeez will lead the team after replacing Misbah-ul Haq – who also lost his place in the T20 side – in May.
The 12-team tournament, in which England are the defending champions, will run from September 18 to October 7.
Chief selector Iqbal Qasim said the final squad was decided after thorough consultation between the selection committee, Hafeez and coach Dav Whatmore.
“We have selected the best possible squad after consultation and this Pakistan team has the capacity to win the World Twenty20,” Qasim told AFP.
Pakistan, runners-up in the inaugural Twenty20 in 2007 and winners in 2009, are placed in group D of the event, alongside Bangladesh and New Zealand.
Qasim defended recalling Razzaq and Nazir.
“They are brilliant players and have experience of international cricket so we have given them another chance,” said Qasim, also backing out-of-form pacemen Mohammad Sami and Umar Gul.
“Gul and Sami are experienced campaigners and their form may be in question but they have class and with their experience can deliver,” said Qasim.
The squad also includes 20-year-old uncapped left-arm spinner in Raza Hasan.
Left-handed opener Nasir Jamshed also returned to the squad after being withdrawn from the limited-over squad for the Sri Lanka tour in May due to a finger injury.
The squad announced on Tuesday will also play the three T20s against Australia in the United Arab Emirates in early September. The two sides also meet for three one-day internationals in late August and Pakistan will announce their squad for these games later.
Squad:
Mohammad Hafeez (captain), Imran Nazir, Nasir Jamshed, Asad Shafiq, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Kamran Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Shahid Afridi, Sohail Tanveer, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Raza Hasan, Yasir Arafat, Mohammad Sami
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Comments (58) Closed
Jul 17, 2012 08:00pm
they can use kamran Akmal batting in t20.
why they need Yasir Arfat when they have tanvir and razzak? I would have hammad instead of yasir.
I would have picked ahmed shazad over jamshed as we already have hafeez, nazir, and akmal as openers.
I feel shoib malik is still their best t20 and ODI player. he is a good fielder along with useful spinner if needed. If we recall he was the one in the end with afridi when we won the t20 cup.
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Jul 18, 2012 10:25am
I am ok with selection committee and wish all the pakistani team members for winning World T20 cup again.
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Jul 18, 2012 11:58am
Team seems to be pretty experienced. Shahid Afridi should be given the captaincship. Lets see what these chaps can bring back home...
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Jul 17, 2012 05:46pm
The youngster are good for the team BUT as a Pakistan cricket fan, I want to See Razzaq and Nazir shine again like they did once. Im not too excited about Kamran though.
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Jul 17, 2012 05:39pm
Why sami and shoaib,Junaid is best bowler
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Jul 17, 2012 05:40pm
What happen to saeed Ajmal does he not exist?after the last performance i would never have mohammad sami in the team.Abdul Razzak is a good all rounder who deserves better respect from us.
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Jul 17, 2012 07:22pm
Yasir Arafat- seriously? Hammad Azam is a much better choice. Where the hell is Junaid Khan? and Kamran Akmal again- urghh- this nation suffers from amnesia- yes, he is back to haunt us again!!
Team announced after consultation with Hafeez- OMG- Die Hafeez die- you do not deserve to be in team let alone be captaining it. Hafeez is such an overrated player; he has never been able to win us matches. All he is capable of is getting set and getting out straight after. cricket men calculation karna partii hen- come on you little dumboo. I am not confident of any team going into the world cup while being captained by Hafeez. God bless us!!
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Jul 17, 2012 11:25am
surely Junaid deserved a spot i place of Sami
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Jul 17, 2012 11:29am
Seriously bad move bringing back Kamran Akmal, Abdul Razzak, Imran Nazir, and Mohammad Sami.
Razzak's time at the top level is done.
Imran Nazir and Mohammad Sami have had their chances and have'nt availed them. (On the other hand, both have performed well in the domestic T20 league, as well as the BBL).
Kamran Akmal should not be allowed back into Pakistan colours after all the question marks around his under-performance (match-fixing).
Plus, the above four (and Yasir Arafat) havent been in any recent T20 matches for Pakistan, and will suddenly show up at the T20 World Cup?
Where is Hammad Azam, why is he being overlooked? Owais Zia? Junaid Khan?
From being a team that used to try too many youngsters, we've become a team that is overly cautious with youngsters.
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Jul 17, 2012 11:30am
Junaid Khan and Abdl Rehman should have been in the team in place of Mohammad Sami and Shoib Malik Terrible mistakes over and and over . We never learn
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Jul 17, 2012 11:32am
i am also wondering why they did not select junaid?
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Jul 17, 2012 03:35pm
I'm strongly in favour of bringing back Kamran Akmal, i've been waiting for this. Its not like he's going to be the wicket keeper again. Thats Umar Akmal's job anyways. I remember K Akmal as being a great batsman. Remember him against Australia last T20 world cup. He was insane. Not happy with Abdur Razzaq's inclusion. His time is gone.
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Jul 17, 2012 06:15pm
kamran akmal , nazir is opener batsman in t20 they are seniors of umar akmal
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Jul 23, 2012 03:34pm
buddies hammad azam should be in place of asad shafiq in t20 and odis whereas Abdul Razzaq is the best hitter in the world all old cricketers agree on that... He is better than cameron white or Lance Klusener even... and Hammad Azam is the replica of Cameron white... Its Big injustice... and kamran akmal also plays well as batsman....
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Jul 17, 2012 05:02pm
Bad selection Mr qasim. Junaid and Hammad should be in the team with Abdur Rehman. It is still time get them back, your selection is disappointing again.
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Jul 17, 2012 12:32pm
I fail to understand why people don't want razzak in the team..he has played close to 300 matches and his average has never dropped below 30!!..for someone who bats lower down the order, 30 is a great average to have..this team looks good, great to see akmal and nazir back in the team even though akmal's keeping could cause some headaches..fingers crossed!!
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Jul 17, 2012 12:28pm
Saray e Cricket Pandit han... kadi khush nhi honday..
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Jul 17, 2012 11:13am
How come sami got selected?? what about junaid khan
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Jul 17, 2012 12:18pm
Kamran Akmal is good choice for T-20, as he is still the best wicket keeper batsman in the country. AbdurRazzak is also very good in this form of the game, But Hammad Azam should have been selected as he the best young player in Pakistan
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Jul 17, 2012 12:12pm
Junaid Khan, Abdul Rehman have performed very well in the recent matches in SL, surely the performance is not the criteria for this selection, Iqbal Qasim should think and reply to the cricket lovers of this injustice.
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Jul 17, 2012 01:13pm
Ahamad Shahzad, Junaid Khan and Hammad Azam should have been in and Imran Nazir, Sami and Razzaq should have been sitting out....... a Real bad selection
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Jul 17, 2012 03:56pm
We dont want shoaib malik, pls retire!!!!
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Jul 17, 2012 12:10pm
I agree with Munib, why get the old guards back, specially Sami who has never performed well in big tournaments, and has been the factor in giving more runs. Sami has been so wayward and off the target, and with his speed, I do not think he is a good choice, moreover he has been given too many chances. I am sure that any player if given so many chances, will come good except Sami. Also where is Hammad Azam, why is he not selected. In Pakistan cricket, the problem is that they take new players, and give them a chance, when they do not have the time to show their class, and then discarded, and then the board wakes up when they show in other countries !
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Jul 17, 2012 04:15pm
I guess the selection is made and there is not much one can do about it. However I do not agree with Qasim when he says the best squad has been selected. The best sqad was not selected. The best squad should have included: Hammad Azam, Junaid Khan and Ahmed Shezad/ or Reza Hussain. Where are they Mr. Qasim? And can you provide a rationale answer for their non inclusion?
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Jul 17, 2012 01:05pm
where is junaid khan and hammad azam?? muhammad sami and shuaib malik are in the team, terrible mistake._
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Jul 17, 2012 01:00pm
hammad azam should be in the team replacing yasir arfat or asad shafiq.....
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Jul 17, 2012 12:56pm
Kamran Akmal should not be included. Umar Akmal should do the keeping job. Junaid Khan and Abdur Rehman should be included instead of Sami and Razza Hassan. Hammad Azam should be preferred over Shoaib Malik/Abdul Razzak.
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Jul 17, 2012 04:23pm
Sorry but Imran Nazir never got the chance to play Twenty20 Internationals. When we first saw him making into Pakistan team he looked like a 20/20 player. He's finally arrived at the format best suits him. Razzaq is short format special player. What about Shahzaib Hasan? An excellent fielder and top batsman.
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Jul 17, 2012 04:07pm
Why Hamad Azam not in the team?
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Jul 17, 2012 12:06pm
Spot on Munib. It is about time we forgot "once in 70 matches" wonders like Razaq and Nazir and players like Wadda Akmal.
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Jul 17, 2012 11:59am
Junaid Khan saved for more serious cricket........
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Jul 17, 2012 01:34pm
why jamshed and why not ahmed shahzad????????? and where is sohail khan , specialist in t20. and where the hell is junaid khan
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Jul 17, 2012 03:51pm
Just two observations: Why Malik??? and Why not Junaid Khan?
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Jul 17, 2012 02:22pm
Junaid Khan certainly deserves a spot in place of Sami
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Jul 17, 2012 02:05pm
Oh please not Sami again. He has got nothing except losing capability.Also it would have been a lot better to have Hammad Azam instead of Yasir Arafat. Similarly Malik also doesn't not deserve to be in this team anymore but i guess we should stop criticizing and pray for their victory.After all that is what we want and just hope that Hafeez is smart enough not to use these losers in the team.Good luck team PAKISTAN, Bring it on this time.GO GREEN!!!
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Jul 17, 2012 01:52pm
Wow, such a backward move. Junaid Khan, Abdur Rehman, and Hammad Azam deserve the place. Why would you play them all year and leave out Imran Nazir, Yasir Arfat, Razzaq, and Sami but bring them back right before the world cup???
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Jul 17, 2012 03:18pm
Juniad Khan and Hamad Azam shoud not be dropped. Keeping Sami is just a favourtizim
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Jul 17, 2012 03:20pm
How the selectors wil justify the inclusion of Sami when Junaid Khan has performed so well.
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Jul 17, 2012 02:55pm
We had an under 19 cricket team which won the world cup and except for Asad Shafiq and Hamad Azam none made it to the senior team i wonder why ? Hamad Azam has not been given a proper chance to show him self yet he has been dropped while old tried multiple times are again being pushed in (PARCHI STRONG HEY) Kamran Akmal will again drop catches and make money while the Awam s blood will curdle ! Umar Gul has his days and on off days he becomes a Match looser,Sami is erratic this team shows we are trying tad bit desperately trying to to win.Look at the German Soccer team and take hint from them.One question is there no one worthy of bein inducted as young blood from the current under 19 ?
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Jul 17, 2012 08:20pm
why or why Sami, he has passed his best (if he every had his best).
Kamran Akmal again why?
Shoaib Malik?
Why do we always go backwards.
Pakistan could have won this twenty 20 world cup, if only we had picked the right team.
I had already booked my tickets to Sri Lanka, and I can't even cancell.I
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Jul 17, 2012 08:34pm
it will be a waste of time series playing with India. Better play with Aus,Eng,NZ or SA they are the great teams. Why play with India? We don't like india.
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Jul 17, 2012 09:21pm
When has Sami not performed in big tournaments? Remember the 2001 World Cup, he was our best player, the only one who performed out of a miserable team performance.
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Jul 17, 2012 10:01pm
Its all politics my friends. Nobody is sincere to the country.
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Jul 17, 2012 10:23pm
Excellent move to bring back Razzaq and Imran Nazir, both have been performing and deserve a chance. We need Razzaq because there is vital need of a mature aggressive player late down the order.
I am surprised Junaid Khan was not selected, Sami has never been a match winner even during his best times.
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Jul 17, 2012 10:50pm
Everyone keep asking where is Junaid Khan, well he is your premier test bowler now and young, you want to porlong his career so you have to rest him for that format. You cant play all the players in all formats. Im not a fan of Sami but he has done well in T20s in recent past, that could have been the reason for his inclusion, but by no means should we ever consider K Akmal, i think U Akmal should be used as Keeper in T20s.
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Jul 18, 2012 12:58pm
My vote goes for Hammad Azam, what a talented player after a long we are seeing.
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Jul 18, 2012 12:49am
kamran is good for club cricket or street cricket.
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Jul 18, 2012 03:46am
More likely this should be Pakistan World T20 squad:
Ahmed Shahzed or Mohammad Hafeez (captain)
Imran Nazir
Owais Zia or Nasir Jamshed
Asad Shafiq
Hammad Azam (in place of Shoaib Malik)
, Umar Akmal,
Kamran Akmal (should play as a bastmen),
Abdul Razzaq,
Shahid Afridi (captain),
Sohail Tanveer,
Umar Gul,
Saeed Ajmal,
Raza Hasan,
Junaid Khan (in place of Yasir Arafat),
Mohammad Sami
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Jul 18, 2012 04:24am
why are people saying Razzaq days are gone , he has been a decent performer although his fielding is not up to par. Also have you seen Pak's recent T20 batting performance it is really struggling. We definitely need experience as new young players are still settling down. My personel opinion on Akmal brothers is that they are over-rated and really are in-capable of delivering the goods. You should NOT forget his pathetic stunts in fielding I think Razzaq is a much better/useful guy at the moment. let the numbers do the talking when the T20 starts..
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Jul 18, 2012 04:25am
I think not including Hammad Azam is a very bad call !!
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Jul 18, 2012 04:56am
thanks to pcb calling back Abdul razzaq and Kamran akmal .................. and all the best to the team
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Jul 18, 2012 05:34am
well balanced selection.if u look at the experience and statistics.u will definately favour Imran nazir,shoaib malik and kamran akmal.we can play a regular batsmen and leave out saeed ajmal.specailly in this form of the game.these players can blast any team.
PAKISTAN T-20 SQUAD
nasir jamshed,imran nazir,hafeez,asad shafiq,shoaib malik,umar akmal,kamran akmal,afridi,sohail tanvir,sami ,gull
CHECK THIS OUT
PLZ IF U FAVOUR AVERAGES AND STRIKE RATES RESPECTIVELY.THNX
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Jul 18, 2012 06:12am
I prayer only the team perform better to win thease event . The Iqbal Qasim is very experience person for this job(if he select the team with honesty and for PAKISTAN not for politics).
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Jul 18, 2012 06:27am
Ahamad Shahzad, Junaid Khan and Hammad Azam should also be a part of this squad.
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Jul 18, 2012 06:59am
A good move by getting in imran and razzak, these r the kind of players pakistan need for t 20 and one days, they r great players, its a bit harsh for junaid khan and hammad azam but at the same time its not possible to get every one in, they have a good chance in future
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Jul 18, 2012 07:23am
Arafat has played 8 T20s and Sami has played 5 T20s. They don't wualify as young or as experienced in T20s!! Junaid should have been an automatic selection due to his good form. If Hammad will not be given a chance even in T20 then when will he ever be tried. Poor poor decisions. PCB must provide justification.
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Jul 18, 2012 04:57pm
I fully agree with you Munib that instead of bringing Junaid Khan & Hammad Azam, they brought those who have been given so many chances and everytime they have failed to perform everytime. This selection looks like buddy business.
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Jul 19, 2012 08:05am
i have a question? why PCB has taken risk by making hafeez as captain? afterall right now he is inexperienced..
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