Pakistan Announces Squads for Asia Cup 2023 and AFG Series; Shan Masood Excluded
Pakistan announces squad for Asia Cup [Twitter]
Pakistan, on Wednesday, announced their limited-overs squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2023 and the Afghanistan ODI series.
As expected, Babar Azam is all set to lead the Pakistan team, which covers all the bases heading into the crucial Asia Cup tournament. The only notable surprise exclusion is that of Shan Masood, who has done well in the recent past.
Inzamam-ul-Haq, the new head of selection committee, announced an 18-member squad for the Afghanistan ODIs, which will be trimmed to a 17-member squad, for the much anticipated Asia Cup, set to begin at the end of the month.
Saud Shakeel, who has been a revelation for Pakistan in red-ball cricket, will only feature against Afghanistan, and has been omitted from the Asia Cup team.
The new head of the selectors has given opportunity to Tayyab Tahir, who has done well in the domestic circuit in List-A competition. Moreover, Faheem Ashraf returns to the squad after two years. The all-rounder last played an ODI for Pakistan in July 2021 against England.
The batting lineup will once again depend on the formidable trio of Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam, while the bowling responsibilities will rest on the shoulders of Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah.
The Asia Cup 2023 was scheduled to take place entirely in Pakistan, but the political differences with India meant that the tournament is now jointly hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
The Asia Cup kicks-off with Pakistan taking on Nepal at the Multan Cricket Stadium. Meanwhile, the ODI matches against Afghanistan commences from August 22.
Pakistan squad for Asia Cup 2023
Babar Azam (capt), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Saud Shakeel, Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Tayyab Tahir, Mohammad Haris, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Wasim
Pakistan squad for Afghanistan series
Babar Azam (capt), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Tayyab Tahir, Mohammad Haris, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Wasim
 "Anurag Dasgupta")
