PCB names 16-member squad for ODI series against Sri Lanka

Lahore: Chairman PCB Shaharyar Mohammad Khan has approved Pakistan’s ODI squad for the forthcoming five-match series against Sri Lanka after the recommendation of the four-member selection committee headed by Haroon Rashid.

In naming the ODI squad, the selection committee had also consulted with the Pakistan team management including Head Coach Waqar Younis and skipper Azhar Ali.

The ODI series commences on July 11, with the remaining four games scheduled for July15, July 19, July 22 and July 26.

The 16-member ODI squad:

1. Ahmed Shezad

2. Azhar Ali (Captain)

3. Muhammad Hafeez

4. Mukhtar Ahmad

5. Asad Shafiq

6. Shoaib Malik

7. Muhammad Rizwan

8. Babar Azam

9. Sarfraz Ahmed (Vice-captain)

10. Yasir Shah

11. Bilal Asif

12. Immad Wasim

13. Anwar Ali

14. Muhammad Irfan

15. Ehsan Adil

16. Rahat Ali

Chief Selector Haroon Rashid Quotes:

“Wahab Riaz, Haris Sohail and Sohaib Maqsood were not available for selection due to injuries. While Haris Sohail and Sohaib Maqsood have been ruled out of the ODI series, the rehab process of Wahab Riaz is being monitored and our medical panel is expected to rescan his injured left hand around the middle of this month to find out the recovery process.

“It is hoped that he recovers well in time to be available for the last two ODIs and if he is declared fit by the medical panel, selection committee might consider sending him over depending the situation of the series after consulting the team management.

“Mukhtar Ahmed has shown tremendous improvement during this period and performed well at international level in T20 format. Selection committee feels that it is the right time to assess his potential in the one-day format by giving him an opportunity.

“Bilal Asif has also shown that he is a powerful hitter in the lower order and also a handy off-spinner and could fill the gap in case Muhammad Hafeez’s action is not cleared after his retesting in Chennai.

“Team Pakistan has a packed schedule from here onwards and the selectors feel that new faces have to be inducted to assess their credentials at international level.”