Shaheen Afridi returns, Champions Trophy 2017 hero snubbed as Pakistan announce T20 World Cup squad

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on September 15 (Thursday) announced the squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Premier bowler Shaheen Afridi, who missed the recently-concluded Asia Cup 2022, returns to the set up as expected for the T20 World Cup while Fakhar Zaman, who was part of the continental tournament, has been dropped from the main squad but is part of the reserves. 

Shan Masood and Haider Ali have been named to the squad while veteran batter Shoaib Malik was once again snubbed from the selection. 

The Men in Green are still searching for their second T20 World Cup title after winning the crown in 2009. Babar Azam's men suffered an agonising defeat in the Asia Cup 2022 final against Sri Lanka despite being deemed as the favourites to win the tournament. 

“We have a team that can perform strongly in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022,” chief selector Mohammad Wasim said.

“That’s why we have shown faith and confidence in almost the same set of players who have been part of the T20I squad post the 2021 World Cup in the UAE.

“These players have performed well since November 2021 and that’s why we have won nine out of our last 13 T20Is. We have invested in these cricketers and it is fair to them that they get the opportunity to show their mettle in the World Cup, an event for which they have been preparing and training hard.

“We needed to ensure continuity and support to these players, and that’s precisely what we have done. We are receiving encouraging reports about Shaheen Shah Afridi, who is likely to resume bowling early next month.”

The upcoming T20 World Cup will give another chance to Pakistan to utilise the talent at their disposal and make a run at the title. 

T20 World Cup squad: Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan (vc), Asif Ali, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Usman Qadir

Reserves: Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Haris, Shahnawaz Dahani

(More to follow)