Shehzad, Umar recalled for SL T20 series
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LAHORE: Pakistan on Wednesday recalled opener Ahmed Shehzad and middle-order batsman Umar Akmal for the three-match Twenty20 International homes series against Sri Lanka starting on Saturday in Lahore.
The 16-member squad was announced for the T20 games being held at the Gaddafi Stadium. The second and third matches of the series will be played on Oct 7 and 9.
National team head coach-cum-chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq had already said that both Shehzad and Umar would be part of the T20 series when he announced the team for the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka.
Shehzad, 27, last featured in a T20 International in June 2018 against Scotland while Umar’s last appearance in the same format was in September 2016 against West Indies.
If selected in the final XI, it will be the first time Shehzad will play for Pakistan since a four-month ban for a failed dope test last year. The ban was extended by six weeks after the batsman violated rules by playing club matches despite the ban. Shehzad has so far played 57 T20 Internationals scoring 1,454 runs at the average of 26.43.
The 29-year-old Umar, known for his chequered discipline record, has played 82 T20 Internationals in which he accumulated 1,690 runs at 26.82.
Young all-rounder Faheem Ashraf also made a comeback for the game’s shortest format. Faheem last featured in a T20 International against England at Cardiff in May this year.
Opener Abid Ali and wicket-keeper Rizwan Ahmed who were part of the three-game ODI series against Sri Lanka in Karachi, failed to get a place in the team. Right-handed Abid, who was given a chance in the last ODI against Sri Lanka played at Karachi’s National Stadium on Wednesday, struck a fine 74.
Meanwhile, left-handed opener Imam-ul-Haq has been dropped from the T20 squad on fitness grounds.
“Imam has been left out of the T20 side due to an injury in his left-hand, which he sustained while fielding in the second ODI against Sri Lanka on Monday. He is also unavailable for selection for the third ODI on Wednesday,” a PCB press release stated.
Squad:
Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Babar Azam (vice-captain), Ahmed Shehzad, Asif Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Umar Akmal, Usman Shinwari, Wahab Riaz.
Published in Dawn, October 3rd, 2019
