LAHORE: Pakistan Chief Selector Muhammad Wasim today (Sunday) has announced the 20-member squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against South Africa, scheduled to start from February 11 at Gaddafi Stadium.
Veteran Mohammad Hafeez, Imad Wasim (unavailable due to family reasons) not named in the squad while Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Musa, Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman have been dropped. Shadab Khan excluded due to injury.
Hafeez developed a deadlock over the date at which he would enter the bio-secure bubble with the rest of the Pakistan squad. Presently playing the T10 league in Abu Dhabi, he requested permission to join the squad on February 5, something the PCB was unwilling to agree to.
“Unfortunately, the scenario is as such that every player has to join the bio-bubble on Feb 3, and if a player can’t do so, it means he is unavailable,” Mohammad Wasim said. “If he was available, there’s no question on his performance, but unfortunately he is not available,” he added.
The 32-year-old Zahid Mehmood, Danish Aziz and Zafar Gohar have earned maiden call-up while Amir Yamin, Mohammad Nawaz, Hasan Ali and Asif Ali return in the 20-member squad.
The iconic Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore will be the venue of the three T20Is, which are scheduled for February 11, 13 and 14.
The squad along with the officials will enter the bio-secure bubble from Wednesday, February 3, the players taking part in the Test series will join the bubble at the end of the second Test.
Squad:
Babar Azam (c), Haider Ali, Khushdil Shah, Hussain Talat, Danish Aziz, Asif Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Zafar Gohar, Faheem Ashraf, Aamer Yamin, Ammad Butt, Mohammad Rizwan, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Hasan Ali, Usman Qadir, Zahid Mehmood.
