LAHORE-Mohammad Hafeez and Sharjeel Khan were included in the national squad for the upcoming South Africa and Zimbabwe series that will take place next month.
Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) Chief Selector Mohammad Wasim announced this during a press conference held here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Friday. The national cricket team is scheduled to play three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and four Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) against South Africa from April 2 to 16. After the South Africa tour, the team will depart to Zimbabwe, where they will play two Tests and three T20Is against them.
Veteran all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez made a comeback to the T20 squad after being dropped for the matches against South Africa. Hafeez had urged the cricket board for a relaxation in some days to join the national squad against South Africa, but he wasn’t allowed and that’s why dropped from the national side. Pakistan white-ball vice-captain Shadab Khan has also returned to the side after missing the South Africa series.
On the other hand, opening batsmen Sharjeel Khan earned a place in the squad after being banned for spot-fixing. Sharjeel played well during the PSL-6 matches and managed to impress the selectors with his powerful hitting and sensible batting, which helped him earn a place in the national squad against South Africa and Zimbabwe series.
Muhammad Wasim also gave maiden call ups to emerging players Mohamamad Wasim Jr and Arshad Iqbal following their strong performances in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Interestingly, Mohamamad Wasim Jr has also been named in the ODI squad. On the other hand, Pakistan will be without the services of leg spinner Yasir Shah in the Test series due to an injury. Multan Sultans bowler Shahnawaz Dahani, who picked up quite a lot of accolades during PSL-6, has been given his maiden Test call.
Two changes have been made in the 20-player Test side that defeated South Africa by seven wickets and 95 runs in Karachi and Rawalpindi, respectively. Kamran Ghulam and Yasir Shah have been replaced by Shahnawaz Dahani and Zahid Mahmood. Zahid has been promoted to the Test squad after taking three wickets on his T20I debut against South Africa following the non-availability of Yasir Shah. Yasir is recovering from a left knee injury he sustained during the Rawalpindi Test against South Africa.
The seven T20Is and two Tests will count towards the ICC T20I and Test Team Rankings, while the three ODIs against South Africa will be part of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League – a 13-team competition from which the top seven sides will qualify automatically for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. The 35-member Pakistan squad will depart for Johannesburg on March 26 for the three ODIs and four T20Is against South Africa. They will then fly to Bulawayo on April 17 for three T20Is and two Tests against Zimbabwe. The side is scheduled to return on May 12.
Prior to their departure for Johannesburg, a training camp for the white-ball players will be held at the Gaddafi Stadium from March 19. The players will arrive in Lahore on March 18 following March 16 PCR tests in their respective cities and will undergo further PCR tests on March 18, 21 and 24. During the Lahore camp, the players will remain in a bio-secure environment.
South Africa TOUR SCHEDULE
April 2 1st ODI SuperSport Park
April 4 2nd ODI Wanderers Stadium
April 7 3rd ODI SuperSport Park
April 10 1st T20I Wanderers Stadium
April 12 2nd T20I Wanderers Stadium
April 14 3rd T20I SuperSport Park
April 16 4th T20I SuperSport Park
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