Misbah-ul-Haq, the chief selector of the national team, announced the players for the series between Pakistan and Zimbabwe starting October 30.
Addressing a press conference in Lahore, he said that Sarfraz Ahmed, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Amir and Usman Shinwari were not being included in the squad as young players were being given a chance to replace them.
Read More:PCB releases new Zimbabwe series schedule
He said that Sarfraz will play first class matches during this time and prepare himself for New Zealand.
Announcing the squad for Schedule 3 Twenty20 matches in Lahore, Misbah-ul-Haq said that it has been decided to give regular opportunities to young players.
“We have replaced Shoaib Malik and Sarfraz Ahmed with young players in the squad but that does not mean that their careers are over,” he said.
It should be noted that Pakistan had played a home series against Sri Lanka 12 months ago.
The matches against Zimbabwe will be part of the ICC Cricket World Cup Super League in which hosts India and seven top ranked teams will qualify.
The chief selector said that the changes in the ODI squad are aimed at gaining valuable points in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League as this event is also the qualifying round of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.
All possible players in the squad will be tested for corona virus on October 19. During the five-day isolation, the players will practice at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, after which the squad will leave for Rawalpindi on October 26.
Read More:Consider moving the series from Zimbabwe to Lahore
Contents
Squad:
Babar Azam (Captain) Shadab Khan (Vice Captain)
batsmen:
Abdullah Shafiq, Abid Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Sohail, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imamul Haq, Khushdal Shah and Muhammad Hafeez.
Wicket-keepers:
Muhammad Rizwan and Rohail Nazir
Spinners:
Emad Wasim, Usman Qadir and Zafar Gohar
Fast bowlers:
Fahim Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Muhammad Hasnain, Musa Khan, Shaheen Shah and Wahab Riaz
Abdullah Shafiq in Pakistan probables for Zimbabwe series
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— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) October 19, 2020
Series schedule
The three ODIs between Pakistan and Zimbabwe will be played in Rawalpindi, the first on October 30, the second on November 1 and the third on November 3.
In addition, 3 T20 matches between the two teams will be played in Lahore, the first on November 7, the second on November 8 and the third on November 10.