Faheem Ashraf has replaced Shan Masood and Ihsanullah in Pakistan’s Asia Cup and Afghanistan series roster. Returning national men’s selection committee head Inzamam-ul-Haq confirmed the series and Asia Cup team. The 18-man roster for the three-match One-Day International series against Afghanistan is different from the 17-man Asia Cup team. Saud Shakeel will miss the Asia Cup due to the Afghanistan series.
Faheem Ashraf returned to Pakistan squad for the Asia Cup
Pakistan will play Afghanistan in Sri Lanka from August 22 to 26 before returning home for the Asia Cup, which opens on August 30 at the Multan Cricket Stadium against Nepal. After two years, Faheem returns to the team to “balance the side as a fast bowling all-rounder”. Pakistan’s July 2021 three-match away series against England was his last. Tayyab Tahir gets his second ODI call-up.
After a strong Pakistan Cup 2022-23, he was called up for the three ODIs against New Zealand in January. Saud, who is not in the Asia Cup roster, played five ODIs, the latest of which was in March 2022 when Pakistan chased 348 against Australia in Lahore with six wickets in hand. Shan was dropped due to low scores, while Ihsanullah was dropped due to an elbow injury. The board said the squad will assemble in Hambantota, Sri Lanka on August 18 and travel from Pakistan on August 17.
Pakistani players will camp at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore on August 14, 15, and 16. The Lankan Premier League and The Hundred players will join the team in Sri Lanka on August 18. The national men’s selection committee—Mickey Arthur, Grant Bradburn, and Hassan Cheema (secretary)—and Pakistan captain Babar Azam finalized the squad, according to the board.
Squad
Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (captain), Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Tayyab Tahir, Saud Shakeel (only for Afghanistan series), Mohammad Rizwan, Haris, Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Nawaz, Usama Mir, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi,
