Pakistan named five bowlers in their 15-man squad for the tournament in the United States and West Indies.
Babar Azam will continue to lead Pakistan in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 as the South Asian team names its fast-paced squad for the tournament.
Babar, who stepped down as captain after the Over-50s Cricket World Cup in November, was reinstated earlier this year and will lead the 2009 champions into the tournament in the United States and West Indies next month.
Pakistan also signed fast bowler Haris Rauf when announcing their 15-man squad on Friday, despite doubts over his fitness and lack of match practice.
The 30-year-old injured his shoulder during the Pakistan Super League in February and is expected to play in the second Twenty20 international in Birmingham on Saturday – his first match since recovery.
The Pakistan Cricket Board selection committee said Rauf is fit and raring to go.
“Rauf is in top form and playing well in the nets,” said a PCB statement.
“It would have been nice if he had got an out in the first game at Headingley, but we remain confident he will continue to maintain an upward trajectory in the coming games.”
The Headingley match between Pakistan and England was abandoned due to rain.
Pakistan are the 20th and latest team to announce their line-up as they continue to search for combinations since their 2-2 home series draw against New Zealand last month.
Pakistan confirms ICC men’s T20 squad for 2024 World Cup
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– PCB Media (@TheRealPCBMedia) May 24, 2024
The tournament will take place from June 1st to 29th.
Teams are divided into four groups of five, with the top two teams qualifying for the Super Eight stage, in which all matches will be played in the West Indies.
Pakistan’s Group A includes arch-rivals India as well as Canada and Ireland.
Pakistan will face the USA in their first match in Dallas on June 6.
Fast bowler Hasan Ali as well as batsmen Agha Salman and Muhammad Irfan Khan were left out of the team.
Fast bowler Mohammad Amir – the sole survivor of Pakistan’s 2009 Twenty20 World Cup triumph – is back after coming out of retirement two months ago.
He is part of a strong pace attack led by Shaheen Shah Afridi, Rauf, Naseem Shah and Abbas Afridi.
Pakistan lost in the 2021 Twenty20 World Cup semi-final in the United Arab Emirates and in the final in Australia in 2022.
Pakistan team: Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Usman Khan, Azam Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abbas Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed.
This story originally appeared on Aljazeera.com read the full story
