KARACHI, Feb 2: The Pakistan Disabled Cricket Association (PDCA) on Thursday named the national squad with its president Saleem Karim as the captain for the first-ever series against England at the ICC Global Cricket Academy Ground in Dubai from Feb 11 to 19.

All-rounder Major Hasnain Alam has been named the vice-captain of the 16-member team.

The squad was picked by a selection committee headed by Sabih Azhar with Jamil Kamran, Aslam Breach, Javed Ashraf and Fareeduddin as members.

“We are eagerly looking forward to the series between impaired cricketers Pakistan and England,” Amiruddin said while announcing the squad.

He recalled that Pakistan’s disabled cricketers have already made their mark at the international level with fine showing on their maiden trip to Malaysia and Singapore last year.

“The way the PDCA has worked with dedication it is being recognised by international body like the ICC,” he commented. “Despite their physical handicaps they have shown remarkable skill and talent.”

The Pakistan impaired cricketers will play three 40 over One-day International and two T20 Internationals. The series will start with two T20 Internationals under floodlights on Feb 11 and 12, followed by three ODIs on Feb 15, 17 and 19.

Other players selected include Matloob Qureshi, Arif Richard, Altaf Ahmed, Farooq Ahmed, Danish Ahmed (wicket-keeper), Rao Javed, Jahanzaib Tiwana, Nihaar Alam, Abdullah, Farhan Saeed, Mohammad Kalam, Mehdi Hasan, Fayyaz Ahmed and Ameer Ahmed.

Umzia-ur-Rehman, Mohammad Fayyaz, Abdullah Afridi and Rehan Ghani Mirza are the stand-bys.

The team officials are Javed Ashraf (manager), Mohammad Nizam (assistant manager), Zafar Iqbal (head coach), Fareedddin (coach), Dr Noman Palikar (team doctor) and Amiruddin Ansari (series director).—APP