Pakistan name uncapped trio in squad for West Indies series

KARACHI: When Pakistan take the field against the visiting West Indies in a three-match Twenty20 International here at the National Stadium from Sunday (April 1) three uncapped youngsters are expected to make their international debut.

The trio of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hussain Talat and Asif Ali were on Monday included in Pakistan’s 15-man squad for the brief series. Their inclusion in the national squad was a rich reward for the trio’s excellent performance in the recently-concluded third edition of HBL Pakistan Super League.Left-arm pacer Rahat Ali, who was one of the success stories of PSL 3, also returns in the national squad.

According to a media release issued by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), “Imad Wasim and Ruman Raees have yet to recover from the injury sustained during the PSL and therefore both were not considered for selection. “Usman Khan Shinwari makes a comeback in the team after recovering from his injury,” chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq was quoted as saying in the PCB media release.

Imad sustained a concussion after his head slammed into the ground after completing a catch, while Raees trod on a ball on the boundary and damaged knee ligaments. Ahmed Shehzad kept his place at the top of the order, while Shoaib Malik, who missed the second half of the tour to New Zealand with concussion after being struck on the head by a wayward throw, also returned.

The T20I series will be played across three consecutive days: April 1, 2 and 3. All matches will be played at the National Stadium in Karachi, which recently hosted the Pakistan Super League final. It will be the first time international cricket will be played in Karachi since 2009, and the first T20I to ever be played at the venue.

Talat, Asif and Afridi have been three of the standout performers in this year’s PSL. Talat’s composure under pressure and solid technique saw him play vital roles in close games, while Asif’s power-hitting, culminating in a six-ball 26 in the final that all but secured the title. Lahore Qalandars’ left-arm bowler Shaheen Afridi is understood to have a strong admirer in Mickey Arthur, who compared him to a young Mitchell Starc days after the 17-year old took five wickets for four runs, the best ever figures in the PSL.

Pakistan’s T20 squad: Ahmed Shehzad, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Sarfraz Ahmed (captain & wk), Hussain Talat, Faheem Ashraf, Muhammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali, Rahat Ali, Usman Khan, Shaheen Afridi. —with inputs from agencies