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Pakistan have announced their ODI squad for the upcoming tour of Afghanistan and the Asia Cup, with Shan Masood the most notable exclusion from the set-up.
As well as leaving out the vice-captain Shan Masood, Pakistan have recalled Faheem Ashraf, who last played an ODI on the 2021 England tour – though he has played T20Is as late as this April.
Apart from Shan, the new selection panel, led by Inzamam-ul-Haq, has also not considered Haris Sohail, Ihsanullah – who is injured – or Mohammad Hasnain for any of the squads. Saud Shakeel will play against Afghanistan, but he will miss out on the Asia Cup where Pakistan reduce the squad size from 18 to 17.
Babar Azam will the side, with Shadab Khan as his deputy. The big stars – openers Imam-ul-Haq and Fakhar Zaman, fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah, wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan – will all be there.
Pakistan play three day-night ODIs against Afghanistan in Sri Lanka – on August 22 and 24 at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium in Hambantota, and on August 26 at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
From there, they fly back home to play their first match of the Asia Cup, against Nepal at the Multan Cricket Stadium on August 30. They then fly out to Sri Lanka again, to play India at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on September 2.
The World Cup begins on October 5, eighteen days after the Asia Cup final, at R Premadasa Stadium.
Pakistan ODI squad for Afghanistan series and Asia Cup:
Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan (vc), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Shaheen Shan Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Iftikhar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Haris, Tayyab Tahir, Usama Mir, Mohammad Wasim, Mohammad Nawaz, Salman Agha, Saud Shakeel (only for Afghanistan series).
