LAHORE: Shan Masood’s consistency with the bat has finally been rewarded with a T20 call-up by Pakistan.

Shan, who turns 33 next month, was on Thursday named in the 15-man Pakistan squad for October’s T20 World Cup in Australia and is also part of a larger squad for the seven-match T20 series against England starting next week.

His inclusion was by and large the only change made by Pakistan from their Asia Cup squad with the man he replaced, Fakhar Zaman, being named as one of three travelling reserves for the World Cup while being omitted from the England series.

With Pakistan betting on pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi being fit in time for the World Cup, Shahnawaz Dahani — who pla­yed two matches at the Asia Cup, where Pakistan lost the final to Sri Lanka — will be part of the England series before being relegated to a travelling reserve for the World Cup.

Wicket-keeper Moham­mad Haris was named as the third and final travelling reserve for the World Cup and is also in the squad that plays England in four games in Karachi starting from Oct 20 before three in Lahore.

Chief selector Mohammad Wasim also announced that all-rounder Aamir Jamal and mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed had been handed maiden call-ups to the national team for the Eng­land series after good performances in domestic cricket.

Unlike that duo, Shan has previously featured for Pakistan in Tests and One-day Internationals and Wasim told a news conference that the left-handed batter had been selected on the back of strong performances in domestic cricket, including the ongoing National T20 Cup.

“He is an experienced player having international experience so including him for the World Cup isn’t a risk,” Wasim said. “We are hopeful he will live up to the expectations.”

Shan has been in prolific form after demoting himself in the batting order from his usual opener’s slot.

“Shan has proved he can play in the middle order and we are confident he will carry his form in the T20 World Cup,” added Wasim.

The middle order has emerged as an area of concern for Pakistan heading into the T20 World Cup with none of the specialist batters being up to the mark at the Asia Cup.

Fakhar, who bats at number three, did not light up the Asia Cup where he managed just 96 runs in six games and injured his knee during the final defeat to Sri Lanka.

“The best available team has been selected, showing consistency in our selection which we have adopted after last year’s T20 World Cup [where Pakistan fell to eventual champions Australia],” said Wasim. “We have invested in these cricketers and it is fair to them that they get the opportunity to show their mettle in the World Cup, an event for which they have been preparing and training hard.”

Wasim also resisted including veteran Shoaib Malik, who has been out of the side since last year’s World Cup. Instead, Iftikhar Ahmed, Asif Ali and Khushdil Shah have been retained despite poor performances at the Asia Cup.

“Iftikhar’s stats in Australia are better than Malik’s,” the chief selector opined.

Wasim was also hopeful that Shaheen will recover in time from a knee injury for the tournament.

The 22-year-old injured his knee while fielding during the first Test in Sri Lanka in July and missed the Asia Cup despite being named in the preliminary squad.

Shaheen has travelled to London for rehabilitation and is expected to join the Pakistan squad in Brisbane from England on Oct 15.

“We are receiving encouraging reports about Shaheen, who is likely to resume bowling early next month,” said Wasim.

Fast bowler Mohammad Wasim Jr is also named in the World Cup squad after recovering fully from a side strain he suffered during the Asia Cup.

Before travelling to Brisbane, Pakistan will play in a T20 international tri-series, including hosts New Zealand and Bangladesh, in Christ­church from Oct 7-14. All teams have until October 15 to make changes in their World Cup squads.

Former champions Pakistan are placed in Group 2 of the Twenty20 World Cup with arch-rivals India, South Africa, Bangladesh and two qualifier teams who will come from the first round. They begin their campaign with an Oct 23 blockbuster against India in Melbourne.

Pakistan won a crunch Super Four clash against India at the Asia Cup, having earlier lost to them in their group opener and Wasim believes that result holds Pakistan in good stead despite their loss to Sri Lanka in the final.

“We defeated the billion dollar team of India in the last World Cup and in Asia Cup too which is commendable,” said Wasim. “We have won nine out of our last 13 T20s and hopefully the team will give its best.”

Squad for T20 World Cup and New Zealand tri-series: Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan, Asif Ali, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Usman Qadir Travelling reserves: Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Haris, Shahnawaz Dahani

Squad for England series: Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan, Aamir Jamal, Abrar Ahmed, Asif Ali, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Junior, Naseem Shah, Shahnawaz Dahani, Shan Masood, Usman Qadir.

Published in Dawn, September 16th, 2022