Shoaib, Imad, Sarfaraz axed for West Indian series

By Ehsan Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The vastly experienced trio of Shoaib Malik, Imad Wasim and Sarfaraz Ahmed has been dropped while fast bowler Hasan Ali is being rested for the upcoming home series against the West Indies starting at National Stadium Karachi from December 13. 

The Pakistan cricket selectors' panel, headed by Mohammad Wasim, has surprised many with some of the choices for the T20I and ODI squads which will be taking on the West Indies later this month. 

From the 18 players who were part of the recently-concluded T20I series against Bangladesh, Hasan Ali, Imad Wasim, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Shoaib Malik have been left out while fast bowler Mohammad Hasnain has been added to the 15-man squad for the T20Is. 

Likewise, from the 17 players who were available for selection for the England ODIs in July, Asif Ali, Haider Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah and Mohammad Wasim Junior have replaced Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Salman Ali Agha and Sarfaraz Ahmed in the 17-member side, while Abdullah Shafique has been named as a traveling reserve.

“As we have been playing T20Is since October and now have a pretty settled and balanced side, we have decided to reduce the number of players to 15. As such, we have not included Imad Wasim, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Shoaib Malik,” chief selector Wasim explained. 

“For the ODIs, which we last played in July, we have accepted the team management’s request and provided them two additional resources,” he added. 

Pakistan’s T20I squad: Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shahnawaz Dahani and Usman Qadir. 

Pakistan’s ODI squad: Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Mohammad Hasnain, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shahnawaz Dahani and Usman Qadir. Traveling reserve: Abdullah Shafique.