Babar Azam-led Pakistan made a big change in their T20 World Cup squad right ahead of their clash against Team India. Pakistan's explosive batter Fakhar Zaman, who was earlier in the travelling reserves, has been included in the final 15-member squad for the marquee event as he swapped place with pace Usman Qadir from the main squad.
Fakhar and Shaheen Shah Afridi had both been undergoing treatment and rehabilitation for knee injuries and they both will arrive in Brisbane from London on Saturday and will be available for selection in the two warm-up matches against England (17 October) and Afghanistan (19 October), during which the team management will assess the left-handed batter’s fitness.
The change was necessary as Usman Qadir is yet to recover from a hairline fracture on his right thumb that he suffered during the 25 September T20I against England in Karachi. The leg-spinner will not be available for selection before 22 October.
Fakhar and Shaheen Shah Afridi had both been undergoing treatment and rehabilitation for knee injuries, and as reported by ESPNcricinfo on Tuesday, will link up with the World Cup squad in Brisbane on Saturday. They will both be available for Pakistan's official warm-up games, against England on October 17 and against Afghanistan on October 19.
Pakistan's World Cup squad: Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Shan Masood.
Traveling reserves: Mohammad Haris, Shahnawaz Dahani and Usman Qadir.
Schedule of Pakistan’s matches at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Australia 2022:
23 October – vs India, Melbourne
27 October – vs winner Group B, Perth
30 October – vs runner-up Group A, Perth
3 November – vs South Africa, Sydney
6 November – vs Bangladesh, Adelaide
