Sharjeel Khan makes comeback for SA , Zimbabwe tour
Sharjeel Khan makes comeback for SA , Zimbabwe
Pakistan , Mar 12 , 2021 :
Sharjeel Khan, who last played for Pakistan in 2016, also returns to the side. His recall comes at the back of a prolific run in the National T20 Cup, where he scored 233 runs and the 2021 PSL, where he was the third-highest scorer behind Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam before the tournament was postponed midway.
" Sharjeel Khan has also staged a comeback in the T20I squad," said chief selector Mohammad Wasim said. "Although he is exactly not where we want him to be, he is not too far away.
With the form he has recently shown in the domestic T20 events, he deserves an opportunity to further improve his fitness and show he still has that ability to win big matches for Pakistan.
Pakistan have also included two young fast bowlers - 19-year-old Mohammad Wasim Jn and 20-year-old Arshad Iqbal. Aamer Yamin, Amad Butt, Hussain Talat, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Zafar Gohar and Zahid Mehmood have been dropped from the side that played against South Africa last month.
" Aamer Yamin, Amad Butt and Kamran Ghulam are unlucky to miss out on selections," said Wasim.
" Aamer and Amad have paved the way for Mohammad Hafeez and Shadab Khan in the T20I squad, while Kamran has narrowly missed out to Salman Ali Agha and Saud Shakeel in the Test side.
However, the three are in the larger pool of players and will get their opportunity at some stage as we have a busy year of cricket ahead of us."
The veteran duo of Wahab Riaz and Imad Wasim has been dropped for the one-dayers, apart from Abid Ali, Haris Sohail, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Muhammad Musa, Rohail Nazir and Zafar Gohar.
Danish Aziz, Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Wasim Jr have been included in the 18-member squad.
Neither Imad nor Wahab find a place in any of the squads.
" Imad Wasim has missed out on selection as we have opted to continue with Mohammad Nawaz," Wasim explained.
" The all-rounder had a decent series against South Africa, taking three wickets at an economy rate of 6.10 with a brisk 11-ball 18 not out in the series finale.
Nawaz deserves another opportunity to show that he belongs to white-ball cricket."
Yasir Shah has been left out of the Zimbabwe Test due to injury, along with Kamran Ghulam.
The legspinner is out with a knee injury and will require six more weeks to recover.
Meanwhile, Shahnawaz Dahani has been handed a maiden call-up to the Test side, while Zahid Mahmood has been recalled in the 20-member Test squad.
" Yasir's absence has opened a door for Zahid Mahmood, who will have a stronger case in the Test squad as compared to the T20I side following the return of Shadab Khan and the presence of Usman Qadir," Wasim said.
" For a place in the Test side, Zahid will compete with Nauman Ali and Sajid Khan, who, like Zahid, were the two outstanding bowlers in the first-class Quaid-e-Azam Trophy."
Pakistan will play three ODIs and four T20Is in South Africa before heading to Zimbabwe for two Tests and three T20Is.
The South Africa series will begin on April 2, with the final match of the tour set to take place on April 16.
They will then fly to Bulawayo on 17 April for three T20Is and two Tests against Zimbabwe. The side is scheduled to return on 12 May.
