Dawn Sports Reporter + Dawn TV
Lahore:
Pakistan on Thursday recalled fast bowler Haris Rauf and medium-pacer Hasan Ali for T20 internationals in Ireland and England later this month, their final warm-ups for the World Cup.
The development came as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) named the 18-man squad that will take on Ireland from May 10-14 and England from May 22-30 during an upcoming tour of the UK.
It follows the appointment of former South Africa top-order batter Gary Kirsten and ex-Australia fast bowler Jason Gillespie as the head coaches for the men’s national team for white and red-ball, respectively. Azhar Mahmood has been made the assistant coach in all formats.
According to a PCB press release, wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan, Azam Khan, and Muhammad Irfan Khan — who all suffered injuries last month against New Zealand — were also included in the squad.
Two players who did not “cut” were wrist spinner Usama Mir and fast bowler Zaman Khan, who played against New Zealand in the recent T20I series.
The PCB said the squad would be reduced to 15 players for the forthcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in The West Indies and the US this summer, adding that it would be announced following the first T20I with England, before the ICC’s May 24 deadline.
“We are having fitness issues with a few players but we hope that during the England tour, we will be able to finalize the World Cup squad,” selector Wahab Riaz told a news conference in Lahore.
All 20 World Cup teams had to submit preliminary 15-player squads to the International Cricket Council by the May 1 deadline, but they can make changes until May 25.
