Pakistan Cricket Board announces 17-member squad for 2023 Asia Cup, veteran all-rounder makes comeback after two years

Pakistan will play a three-match ODI series against Afghanistan before taking part in the Asia Cup.

Pakistan Cricket Board announces 17-member squad for 2023 Asia Cup, veteran all-rounder makes comeback after two years

Pakistan Cricket Team (Image via NDTV Sports)

Inzamam-Ul-Haq announced his first squad after the Pakistan Cricket Board announced him as the new Chief Selector of the Pakistan Senior National Men’s Team. The PCB Chief Selector has named an 18-man squad for the ODI series against Afghanistan and a 17-member squad for the 2023 Asia Cup.

The squad is led by captain Babar Azam and is filled with Pakistan regulars like Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Mohammed Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, and others who will play the Afghanistan tour. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s seasoned all-rounder Faheem Ashraf is making a comeback to the national squad after two long years.

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The 29-year-old Pace bowling all-rounder last played an ODI for Pakistan in July 2021 against England. Since then he has only featured for the Test and T20I teams. 

Also Read: BCCI gets called “most incompetent cricket board” as ICC released revised ODI World Cup schedule with nine games rescheduled

Pakistan to kick off World Cup preparation with ODI series against Afghanistan

India vs Pakistan 2023 ODI World Cup
Team Pakistan (Image via Twitter)

Shan Masood and pacer Ihsanullah who have also been included in Pakistan’s Asia Cup squad, played their last ODI series at home against New Zealand. Even young pacer Zaman Khan has been dropped from the squad. Saud Shakeel will only be playing in the bilateral series against Afghanistan as the maximum number of players per squad in the Asia Cup is 17. 

The team will first play a three-match ODI series against Afghanistan from 22nd August to 26th August. After the series, the team will then play in the Asia Cup, which will be held in Pakistan and Sri Lanka. They will play against India and Nepal in the Group stage. If Pakistan go through (which is almost certain), they will play in the Super 4, along with the top 2 teams of the other group and India. The top 2 Teams then go on and play in the finals of the tournament. 

These two series will be beneficial for Pakistan in their quest to prepare for the ODI World Cup which will start in October this year.

Pakistan squad for Asia Cup and Afghanistan ODIs

Openers: Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq

Middle order: Babar Azam (captain), Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Tayyab Tahir, and Saud Shakeel (only for Afghanistan series).

Wicketkeepers: Mohammad Rizwan and Mohammad Haris

Spinners: Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Mohammad Nawaz and Usama Mir

Pace all-rounder: Faheem Ashraf

Pacers: Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah and Shaheen Afridi

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