Shoaib Malik IN; Sohaib Maqsood Out; from T20 World Cup Pakistani squad…….

BY;ASGHAR ALI MUBARAK

 Shoaib Malik has been named in the Pakistan squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup after Sohaib Maqsood was ruled out due to a back injury he got during the National T20 Cup, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said Saturday. The T20 World Cup will be held in the United Arab Emirates from October 17 to November 14.Shoaib Malik had captained Pakistan in the inaugural Men’s T20 World Cup in 2007 and was a member of the side that won the tournament in 2009. After missing the West Indies event in 2010, he had featured in the 2012, 2014 and 2016 tournaments.

Sohaib underwent MRI scans for the lower back on Thursday after picking up the injury during the October 6 match against Northern and consequently missed the October 7 match against Central Punjab. This marks the fourth change in the initial Pakistan squad announced on September 4. On Friday, the cricket board made three changes in the team after taking into consideration player performances and form during the National T20 Cup. Sarfaraz Ahmed and Haider Ali have replaced Azam Khan and Mohammad Hasnain respectively, while Fakhar Zaman, who was originally named as a travel reserve, has swapped places with Khushdil Shah. The Pakistan squad will depart for Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on October 15. They will play two warm-up matches against the West Indies and South Africa on October 18 and 20, respectively, before taking on India in a Group-2 fixture on October 24 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Pakistan squad for this month’s Men’s T20 World Cup, all-rounder Shoaib Malik has replaced batter Sohaib Maqsood, according to a statement issued by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Saturday. The PCB said Maqsood had been ruled out of the squad due to a lower back injury. “Sohaib had undergone MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans for the lower back on Thursday after picking up the injury during [the] October 6 match against Northern and consequently missed the October (7) match against Central Punjab [in the National T20 Cup],” it added. Commenting on the development, chief selector Mohammad Wasim regretted that Maqsood had to be dropped from the squad. “Sohaib is devastated to miss out on the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup as he had worked hard for this event and was in sparkling form. We feel for him but injuries are part and parcel of the sport,” he said, according to the PCB statement. “I am sure after undergoing rehabilitation, he’ll fully recover to be available for future assignments.” Wasim added that after discussions with the team management, it had been decided to include Malik in the side. “I am sure Shoaib’s experience will be handy for the entire squad.”

A day ago, the PCB had announced three changes in the Pakistan side for the tournament, with former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed replacing the young Azam Khan.In the other two changes, Haider Ali had been replaced by Mohammad Hasnain, while Fakhar Zaman, who was originally named as a travel reserve, had swapped places with Khushdil Shah. The national selectors made the changes “after taking into consideration player performances and form”, the PCB had said in a statement. Pakistan’s squad will depart for Dubai on October 15 and will play two warm-up matches against the West Indies and South Africa on October 18 and October 20, respectively, before taking on India in a Group-2 fixture on 24 October at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Pakistan’s 15-player squad confirmed by the selectors on Saturday is:

Babar Azam (captain, Central Punjab)

Shadab Khan (vice-captain, Northern)

Asif Ali (Northern)

Fakhar Zaman (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa)

Haider Ali (Northern)

Haris Rauf (Northern)

Hasan Ali (Central Punjab)

Imad Wasim (Northern)

Mohammad Hafeez (Central Punjab)

Mohammad Nawaz (Northern)

Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa)

Mohammad Wasim Jr (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa)

Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper, Sindh)

Shaheen Shah Afridi (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa)

Shoaib Malik (Central Punjab)

The travelling reserves in the squad are Khushdil Shah (Southern Punjab), Shahnawaz Dahani (Sindh) and Usman Qadir (Central Punjab).

Schedule of Pakistan’s matches in T20 World Cup

Oct 24: Pakistan v India, Group 2, Dubai International Cricket Stadium

Oct 26: Pakistan v New Zealand, Group 2, Sharjah Cricket Stadium

Oct 29: Pakistan v Afghanistan, Group 2, Dubai International Cricket Stadium

Nov 2: Pakistan v A2, Group 2, Sheikh Zayed International Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Nov 7: Pakistan v B1, Group 2, Sharjah Cricket Stadium