Daijiworld Media Network - Lahore
Lahore, Jan 25: Pakistan on Sunday announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup, effectively stepping back from an earlier threat by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi to boycott the tournament in solidarity with Bangladesh.
The tournament is scheduled to be held in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8, with Salman Ali Agha named as captain of the Pakistan side. All of Pakistan’s group matches will be played in Sri Lanka.
Naqvi had earlier hinted at a possible withdrawal after the ICC replaced Bangladesh with Scotland, following Bangladesh’s refusal to travel to India citing security concerns. He had said the final decision on Pakistan’s participation would be taken by the government.
The squad was announced at a press conference at the Gaddafi Stadium here, addressed by PCB High Performance Director and national selection committee member Aqib Javed, captain Salman Ali Agha, and white-ball head coach Michael James Hesson.
It may be recalled that the PCB, BCCI and ICC had entered into a tripartite agreement last year under which all India-Pakistan matches until 2027 will be played at neutral venues.
There were no major surprises in the squad, with selectors retaining the core group of players set to feature in the upcoming home T20 series against Australia starting January 29 in Lahore. Medium pacer Mohammad Wasim Jr was the only notable omission.
The selectors opted for a spin-heavy combination, including specialist spinners Abrar Ahmed and Usman Tariq, along with spin all-rounders Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan and Saim Ayub.
Young hard-hitting batter Khawaja Mohammad Nafay, who has played just one T20 International earlier this month in Sri Lanka, also found a place in the squad.
Six players — Salman Ali Agha, Faheem Ashraf, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Sahibzada Farhan and Usman Tariq — have earned their maiden call-ups for a global ICC event.
Meanwhile, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan and Usman Khan have featured in one or more editions of the T20 World Cup since 2021.
Pakistan have been placed in Group A and will open their campaign against the Netherlands on February 7 in Colombo.
Pakistan squad:
Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wk) and Usman Tariq.