Ajmal returns, U. Akmal dropped for Bangladesh tour

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday announced squads which will travel to Bangladesh for a tour scheduled to begin later this month.

Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal will mark his comeback in all three formats of the game and will display his new modified bowling action. The PCB decided not to include batsman Umer Akmal whose performance with the bat and behind the stumps was the subject of criticism during the World Cup.

In other changes, Ahmed Shehzad was only included in the T20 squad while Fawad Alam was included in the ODI squad. Umer Gul who has been battling injuries will also make his return in the T20 squad.

The team was announced by newly appointed Chief Selector Haroon Rasheed who said the PCB’s focus was on the ODI squad for the next four years in preparation for the World Cup.

Rasheed told journalists that reports of the team management on the World Cup and performance of players were taken into consideration in the selection process.

“All players should know that Pakistan comes first,” Rasheed said in a message to players. “Players should contribute towards Pakistan winning…Players will be given full support and we expect them to be professionals and play as a unit.”

According to Rasheed consultations were held regarding the team’s selection but the final decision was made by the selection committee.

Test Squad: Babar Azam, Muhammed Hafeez, Sami Aslam, Misbah-ul-Haq, Asad Shafique, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Haris Sohail, Saeed Ajmal, Yasir Shah, Zulfiqar Babar, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Wahab Riaz, Junaid Khan, Sohail Khan and Rahat Ali

ODI Squad: Sami Aslam, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Muhammad Hafeez, Asad Shafique, Fawad Alam, Azhar Ali, Muhammad Rizwan, Haris Sohail, Sohaib Maqsood, Saeed Ajmal, Yasir Shah, Wahab Riaz, Rahat Ali, Ehsan Adil and Sohail Khan

T20 Squad: Ahmed Shehzad, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Muhammad Hafeez, Mukhtar Ahmed, Sohaib Maqsood, Haris Sohail, Muhammad Rizwan, Saeed Ajmal, Shahid Afridi, Sohail Tanveer, Saad Nasim, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Khan, Umer Gul and Junaid Khan.