Pakistan have recalled formerly out-of-favour injured fast bowler Haris Rauf and medium pacer Hasan Ali for their Twenty20 series against Ireland and England later this month, their final warm-ups for the T20 World Cup, but have not yet announced their squad given the 20-team tournament in June.
Wicketkeepers Mohammad Rizwan, Azam Khan and Muhammad Irfan Khan, all of whom sustained injuries against New Zealand last month, were also included in the 18-man squad named on Thursday.
The Pakistan selectors have not yet named their final 15-man squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies in June.
“We have fitness issues with some players but we hope that we can finalize the squad for the World Cup during the England tour,” selector Wahab Riaz said at a press conference in Lahore.
All 20 World Cup teams were required to submit preliminary 15-player squads to the International Cricket Council by May 1, but they have until May 25 to make changes.
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Rauf, wicketkeeper-batsers Mohammad Rizwan and Azam Khan and middle-order batter Irfan Khan are all recovering from injuries and have been included in the 18-man squad.
Rauf, 30, has been out of cricket since injuring his shoulder in February during the Pakistan Super League, but plays bowling at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore, where he is undergoing rehabilitation.
Azam missed out due to a calf muscle injury he sustained on the eve of the first T20 in Rawalpindi. Rizwan and Irfan were both ruled out of the last two T20 games against the Black Caps due to hamstring injuries they sustained in the third game.
“Rauf has started bowling and when we play England he will be fit,” said Riaz.
“We have added Hasan Ali to the squad as a replacement.” Hasan has not played a Twenty20 international for Pakistan since September 2022.
Ali has taken 60 wickets in 50 T20 matches but has not played in the format for Pakistan since the Asia Cup in September 2022. He played for Warwickshire in the English County Championship Division One and came into consideration after taking 14 wickets in the Pakistan Super League while representing the Karachi Kings.
Usman Khan gets another chance after switching allegiances
The selectors have given another chance to top-class batsman Usman Khan, who switched his allegiance to Pakistan, his country of birth, resulting in a five-year ban from representing the Emirates Cricket Board. Usman scored just 59 runs in four games against New Zealand, with his highest score being 31, and struggled to make an impact in the drawn series.
Spinning all-rounder Agha Salman, who has played Tests and one-day internationals, is set to make his T20 debut following his inclusion.
Agha has been recalled as an option in a spin department that also includes Shadab Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Imad Wasim and Iftikhar Ahmed.
Leg-spinner Usama Mir and fast bowler Zaman Khan, who both featured in the series against the Black Caps, were dropped.
“We understand that Usama and Zaman will be disappointed,” Riaz said.
“They are first-class cricketers and have a long career ahead of them. They need to continue to focus on their cricket so that they are available when needed.”
Pakistan will play Ireland in Dublin on May 10, 12 and 14.
This will be followed by four games against England at Headingley in Leeds on May 22nd, Edgbaston in Birmingham (May 25th), Sophia Gardens in Cardiff (May 28th) and the Oval in London (May 30th).
Pakistan T20 squad for Ireland and England matches: Babar Azam (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan, Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Usman Khan.