The chairman of the national men’s selection committee, Inzamam-ul-Haq, released the squads for the three-game One-Day International series against Afghanistan and the ACC Men’s Asia Cup today.
From August 22 through August 26, an 18-player squad will compete against Afghanistan in Sri Lanka. By August 30, when Pakistan takes on Nepal at the Multan Cricket Stadium to kick off the Asia Cup, the squad will be down to just 17.
Openers: Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq, Middle order: Babar Azam (captain), Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Tayyab Tahir and Saud Shakeel (only for Afghanistan series).
Wicketkeepers: Mohammad Rizwan and Mohammad Haris, Spinners: Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Mohammad Nawaz and Usama Mir, Pace all-rounder: Faheem Ashraf.
Pacers: The squad for the Afghanistan series includes Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, and Shaheen Afridi, as well as Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, and Saud Shakeel. The only members of the team who did not play in the five ODIs against New Zealand in April and May were Shan Masood and Ihsanullah.
Faheem, a fast-bowling all-rounder, rejoins the team after a two-year absence and improves its balance. During Pakistan’s three-match away series against England in July 2021, he made his final appearance in the format.
Tayyab has received his second call-up to the ODI team. His first call-up came ahead of the three One-Day Internationals against New Zealand in January as a result of his outstanding performance in the Pakistan Cup 2022–23, where he finished as the competition’s top run-getter.
The middle-order right-handed batsman recently hit a brilliant century to help Pakistan Shaheens defeat India A by a whopping 128 runs in the ACC Men’s Emerging Cup final.
Saud has played five ODIs, the last of which was in March 2022 in Lahore when Pakistan defeated Australia by a score of 348 runs with six wickets remaining. Saud is not a member of the Asia Cup squad.
Shan was passed over for selection due to a run of poor performances, and Ihsanullah is undergoing rehabilitation under the watchful eye of the PCB medical panel due to an elbow injury sustained while bowling.
The players in Pakistan will leave on August 17 so that the team can assemble in Hambantota on August 18. On August 14, 15, and 16, the players in Pakistan will hold a three-day camp at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore.
Here is the complete team for the 2023 Asia Cup.
| Abdullah Shafique | Fakhar Zaman | Imam-ul-Haq | Babar Azam | Salman Ali Agha | Iftikhar Ahmed, |
| Tayyab Tahir | Saud Shakeel | Mohammad Rizwan | Mohammad Haris | Shadab Khan | Mohammad Nawaz |
| Usama Mir | Faheem Ashraf | Haris Rauf | Mohammad Wasim Jnr | Naseem Shah | Shaheen Afridi |
Babar Azam, the captain of Pakistan, and members of the national men’s selection committee, which also includes Mickey Arthur, Grant Bradburn, and Hassan Cheema (secretary), met to discuss the team.
On August 18, participants in the Lankan Premier League and The Hundred will join the team in Sri Lanka.
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