Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the T20I squad for the Hangzhou Asian Games 2023. The 20-year-old all-rounder Qasim Akram, who was a part of Pakistan A's Emerging Asia Cup 2023 title win, has been selected as captain of the side.
Similar to India, Pakistan have sent a second-string side to the tournament as the senior side will be busy preparing for the World Cup. The notable names in the squad include Asif Ali, Haider Ali, Khushdil Shah, Shahnawaz Dahani, and Usman Qadir.
Qasim Akram: The rising star leading Pakistan in Asian Games 2023
Meanwhile, Akram is yet to make his debut in T20Is or ODIs. He had led the Pakistan side in the 2022 edition of the ICC Men's Under-19 World Cup. In the Emerging Asia Cup 2023 final, he was dismissed for a golden duck by Riyan Parag. So far, he has featured in 40 T20 games. He has scored 468 runs at an average of 18 from 32 innings including three half-centuries. With the ball, he has 17 wickets to his name and conceded runs at an economy rate of 7.84 runs per over.
The last time Pakistan men's side featured in the Asian Games was in the 2010 edition. They won the bronze medal in the Guangzhou games.
The Pakistan side has got a direct entry into the quarter-final stage based on their International Cricket Council (ICC) rankings. The quarter-finals are to be played on October 3 and 4. The semi-final clashes will take place on October 6 followed by the final on October 7. The losing teams of the semi-finals will play the bronze medal match on October 7 as well.
Pakistan Shaheens squad for Asian Games
Qasim Akram (c), Omair Bin Yousuf (vc), Aamir Jamal, Arafat Minhas, Arshad Iqbal, Asif Ali, Haider Ali, Khushdil Shah, Mirza Tahir Baig, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Akhlaq (wk), Rohail Nazir, Shahnawaz Dahani, Sufiyan Muqeem and Usman Qadir.
Non-traveling reserves: Abdul Wahid Bangalzai, Mehran Mumtaz, Mohammad Imran Jr, Muhammad Irfan Khan Niazi, and Mubasir Khan.
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