Kamran, Shehzad selected for T20, ODI squads
LAHORE: Kamran Akmal and Ahmed Shehzad have succeeded in winning back their places in Pakistan’s One-day International and Twenty20 squads for the West Indies tour while Azhar Ali faced the axe.
Chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq on Wednesday announced a 15-member squad for four T20 matches and a 16-man squad for three ODIs.
The T20 series is starting in Bridgetown on March 26 while the ODI series will begin on April 7 in Guyana.
Middle-order batsman Umar Akmal is the only player who could not find a place after failing to pass the fitness test.
Both Kamran and Shehzad have worked really hard to get back their places. Kamran has constantly been scoring runs after the 2014 World T20. He also won the best batsman, best player and best wicket-keeper awards at the recently concluded Pakistan Super League while playing for Peshawar Zalmi.
Similarly, Shehzad, who was dropped after the World T20 in 2016 for under par performance and indiscipline, nudged selectors to give him another chance.
Azhar Ali axed; uncapped quartet named
He has hit three centuries in the National One-day Cup and aggregated 653 runs at an excellent average of 93.28.
While playing for Quetta Gladiators at PSL 2, he amassed 242 runs, helping them qualify for the final.
Azhar, who was made the captain of the ODI team after the 2015 World Cup, played 31 matches since then, scoring 1,153 runs at an average of 37.19 with three centuries and five fifties.
He stepped down as skipper after disappointing tours of New Zealand and Australia.
“Azhar is still a part of our long-term plan and he may be recalled for the ICC Champions Trophy in England because of tough conditions,” Inzamam said.
“This time, we want to test potential of new faces,” he added.
About Umar Akmal, the chief selector said the middle-order batsman could not pass the fitness test although it was not a tough one.