Kamran Akmal, Razzaq make final World T20 squad
Kamran, 30, was selected after he was cleared by a PCB integrity committee. -File photo
KARACHI: Pakistan recalled wicket-keeper batsman Kamran Akmal, all-rounder Abdul Razzaq and opener Imran Nazir in their 15-man squad on Tuesday for the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka.
Kamran, 30, was cleared by a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) integrity committee last week after his name was mentioned at the trial in England last year of three Pakistani Test players over spot-fixing allegations.
Former Test captain Salman Butt and pacemen Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer were banned and jailed for contriving deliberate no-balls during the Lord’s Test against England in 2010.
Kamran last played for Pakistan in May last year in the semi-final of the World Cup against India, at Mohali, a match India won by 29 runs.
Razzaq, 32, last played against Sri Lanka in November 2011 while Nazir has not played since 2010.
Mohammad Hafeez will lead the team after replacing Misbah-ul Haq – who also lost his place in the T20 side – in May.
The 12-team tournament, in which England are the defending champions, will run from September 18 to October 7.
Chief selector Iqbal Qasim said the final squad was decided after thorough consultation between the selection committee, Hafeez and coach Dav Whatmore.
“We have selected the best possible squad after consultation and this Pakistan team has the capacity to win the World Twenty20,” Qasim told AFP.
Pakistan, runners-up in the inaugural Twenty20 in 2007 and winners in 2009, are placed in group D of the event, alongside Bangladesh and New Zealand.
Qasim defended recalling Razzaq and Nazir.
“They are brilliant players and have experience of international cricket so we have given them another chance,” said Qasim, also backing out-of-form pacemen Mohammad Sami and Umar Gul.
“Gul and Sami are experienced campaigners and their form may be in question but they have class and with their experience can deliver,” said Qasim.
The squad also includes 20-year-old uncapped left-arm spinner in Raza Hasan.
Left-handed opener Nasir Jamshed also returned to the squad after being withdrawn from the limited-over squad for the Sri Lanka tour in May due to a finger injury.
The squad announced on Tuesday will also play the three T20s against Australia in the United Arab Emirates in early September. The two sides also meet for three one-day internationals in late August and Pakistan will announce their squad for these games later.
Squad:
Mohammad Hafeez (captain), Imran Nazir, Nasir Jamshed, Asad Shafiq, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Kamran Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Shahid Afridi, Sohail Tanveer, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Raza Hasan, Yasir Arafat, Mohammad Sami
i have a question? why PCB has taken risk by making hafeez as captain? afterall right now he is inexperienced..
My vote goes for Hammad Azam, what a talented player after a long we are seeing.
Team seems to be pretty experienced. Shahid Afridi should be given the captaincship. Lets see what these chaps can bring back home…
Arafat has played 8 T20s and Sami has played 5 T20s. They don't wualify as young or as experienced in T20s!! Junaid should have been an automatic selection due to his good form. If Hammad will not be given a chance even in T20 then when will he ever be tried. Poor poor decisions. PCB must provide justification.
A good move by getting in imran and razzak, these r the kind of players pakistan need for t 20 and one days, they r great players, its a bit harsh for junaid khan and hammad azam but at the same time its not possible to get every one in, they have a good chance in future
Ahamad Shahzad, Junaid Khan and Hammad Azam should also be a part of this squad.
I prayer only the team perform better to win thease event . The Iqbal Qasim is very experience person for this job(if he select the team with honesty and for PAKISTAN not for politics).
well balanced selection.if u look at the experience and statistics.u will definately favour Imran nazir,shoaib malik and kamran akmal.we can play a regular batsmen and leave out saeed ajmal.specailly in this form of the game.these players can blast any team.
PAKISTAN T-20 SQUAD
nasir jamshed,imran nazir,hafeez,asad shafiq,shoaib malik,umar akmal,kamran akmal,afridi,sohail tanvir,sami ,gull
CHECK THIS OUT
PLZ IF U FAVOUR AVERAGES AND STRIKE RATES RESPECTIVELY.THNX
thanks to pcb calling back Abdul razzaq and Kamran akmal ……………… and all the best to the team
I think not including Hammad Azam is a very bad call !!
More likely this should be Pakistan World T20 squad:
Ahmed Shahzed or Mohammad Hafeez (captain)
Imran Nazir
Owais Zia or Nasir Jamshed
Asad Shafiq
Hammad Azam (in place of Shoaib Malik)
, Umar Akmal,
Kamran Akmal (should play as a bastmen),
Abdul Razzaq,
Shahid Afridi (captain),
Sohail Tanveer,
Umar Gul,
Saeed Ajmal,
Raza Hasan,
Junaid Khan (in place of Yasir Arafat),
Mohammad Sami
Everyone keep asking where is Junaid Khan, well he is your premier test bowler now and young, you want to porlong his career so you have to rest him for that format. You cant play all the players in all formats. Im not a fan of Sami but he has done well in T20s in recent past, that could have been the reason for his inclusion, but by no means should we ever consider K Akmal, i think U Akmal should be used as Keeper in T20s.
Excellent move to bring back Razzaq and Imran Nazir, both have been performing and deserve a chance. We need Razzaq because there is vital need of a mature aggressive player late down the order.
I am surprised Junaid Khan was not selected, Sami has never been a match winner even during his best times.
Its all politics my friends. Nobody is sincere to the country.
it will be a waste of time series playing with India. Better play with Aus,Eng,NZ or SA they are the great teams. Why play with India? We don't like india.
why or why Sami, he has passed his best (if he every had his best).
Kamran Akmal again why?
Shoaib Malik?
Why do we always go backwards.
Pakistan could have won this twenty 20 world cup, if only we had picked the right team.
I had already booked my tickets to Sri Lanka, and I can't even cancell.I
they can use kamran Akmal batting in t20.
why they need Yasir Arfat when they have tanvir and razzak? I would have hammad instead of yasir.
I would have picked ahmed shazad over jamshed as we already have hafeez, nazir, and akmal as openers.
I feel shoib malik is still their best t20 and ODI player. he is a good fielder along with useful spinner if needed. If we recall he was the one in the end with afridi when we won the t20 cup.
Yasir Arafat- seriously? Hammad Azam is a much better choice. Where the hell is Junaid Khan? and Kamran Akmal again- urghh- this nation suffers from amnesia- yes, he is back to haunt us again!!
Team announced after consultation with Hafeez- OMG- Die Hafeez die- you do not deserve to be in team let alone be captaining it. Hafeez is such an overrated player; he has never been able to win us matches. All he is capable of is getting set and getting out straight after. cricket men calculation karna partii hen- come on you little dumboo. I am not confident of any team going into the world cup while being captained by Hafeez. God bless us!!
What happen to saeed Ajmal does he not exist?after the last performance i would never have mohammad sami in the team.Abdul Razzak is a good all rounder who deserves better respect from us.
Why sami and shoaib,Junaid is best bowler