Pakistan rest seniors for Zimbabwe series
KARACHI: Young Karachi batsman Ramiz Raja Junior was on Thursday rewarded for his prolific exploits on the domestic circuit when he was picked in a 16-man squad for the tour of Zimbabwe starting late next month.
In what appears to be a new-look team, places have also been made for young leggie Yasir Shah and Aizaz Cheema, the 31-year-old pacer, who was dropped at the last moment from the touring party ahead of the series against West Indies earlier this summer.
Making a comeback in the squad are left-handed opener Imran Farhat, left-arm pacer Sohail Tanvir and fast bowler Sohail Khan. Also regaining his spot in the side is stumper Adnan Akmal, who replaces wicketkeeper Mohammad Salman.
National selectors, who discussed the combination of the team for the Zimbabwe tour for two days with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt and the team management in Lahore, finally announced a squad that is without key bowlers including pace spearhead Umar Gul.
Also rested for the tour of Zimbabwe that will include one Test, three One-day Internationals and two Twenty20 games are pacers Wahab Riaz, Tanvir Ahmed and left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman.
“We wanted to try out several of the youngsters who have performed well in domestic competitions,” said Mohsin Khan, Pakistanís chief selector. “That’s why we have rested a number of regular team members to make way for talented boys like Ramiz and Yasir,” added the former Pakistan Test opener.
Among the rookies brought in for the tour that will tee off with a warm-up game from August 28 in Bulawayo is Ramiz Raja Junior.
The 23-year-old was the leading scorer in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Division One last season. But it was his batting heroics at last month’s Faysal Bank Super Eight Twenty20 Cup which have finally catapulted the big-hitting batsman in the national team.
The trio of Sohail Tanvir, Sohail Khan and Aizaz Cheema has also earned Pakistan call-ups after impressive stints on the domestic circuit. The two Sohails were among the biggest stars of the Super Eight Twenty20 Cup in Faisalabad while Cheema bagged 57 wickets from eight Quaid-e-Azam Trophy matches.
Imran Farhat’s selection did raise a few eyebrows as he was axed after last year’s series against South Africa in UAE following a series of poor outings. However, his one-day showing on the domestic circuit after the axing did help his cause.
Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik has been picked as one of the six reserve players but his inclusion is subject to clearance from Pakistan Cricket Board’s integrity committee. The seasoned allrounder has been overlooked for national duty since last summer because of corruption suspicions.
“He (Malik) can return to duty if he is cleared because as an allrounder he can be really useful,” said Mohsin.
While Malik has received some positive news, there was no such luck for Kamran Akmal and Danish Kaneria, who are also on the PCB radar for possible links with match-fixers. The duo continues to be on a PCB blacklist.
Pakistan squad: Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Taufiq Umar, Imran Farhat, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Rameez Raja Junior, Adnan Akmal, Saeed Ajmal, Yasir Shah, Sohail Tanveer, Sohail Khan, Junaid Khan, Aizaz Cheema.
Reserves: Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Khurram Manzoor, Sharjeel Khan, Mohammad Talha, Hammad Azam, Shoaib Malik (subject to clearance from PCB integrity committee).
In what appears to be a new-look team, places have also been made for young leggie Yasir Shah and Aizaz Cheema, the 31-year-old pacer, who was dropped at the last moment from the touring party ahead of the series against West Indies earlier this summer.
Making a comeback in the squad are left-handed opener Imran Farhat, left-arm pacer Sohail Tanvir and fast bowler Sohail Khan. Also regaining his spot in the side is stumper Adnan Akmal, who replaces wicketkeeper Mohammad Salman.
National selectors, who discussed the combination of the team for the Zimbabwe tour for two days with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt and the team management in Lahore, finally announced a squad that is without key bowlers including pace spearhead Umar Gul.
Also rested for the tour of Zimbabwe that will include one Test, three One-day Internationals and two Twenty20 games are pacers Wahab Riaz, Tanvir Ahmed and left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman.
“We wanted to try out several of the youngsters who have performed well in domestic competitions,” said Mohsin Khan, Pakistanís chief selector. “That’s why we have rested a number of regular team members to make way for talented boys like Ramiz and Yasir,” added the former Pakistan Test opener.
Among the rookies brought in for the tour that will tee off with a warm-up game from August 28 in Bulawayo is Ramiz Raja Junior.
The 23-year-old was the leading scorer in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Division One last season. But it was his batting heroics at last month’s Faysal Bank Super Eight Twenty20 Cup which have finally catapulted the big-hitting batsman in the national team.
The trio of Sohail Tanvir, Sohail Khan and Aizaz Cheema has also earned Pakistan call-ups after impressive stints on the domestic circuit. The two Sohails were among the biggest stars of the Super Eight Twenty20 Cup in Faisalabad while Cheema bagged 57 wickets from eight Quaid-e-Azam Trophy matches.
Imran Farhat’s selection did raise a few eyebrows as he was axed after last year’s series against South Africa in UAE following a series of poor outings. However, his one-day showing on the domestic circuit after the axing did help his cause.
Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik has been picked as one of the six reserve players but his inclusion is subject to clearance from Pakistan Cricket Board’s integrity committee. The seasoned allrounder has been overlooked for national duty since last summer because of corruption suspicions.
“He (Malik) can return to duty if he is cleared because as an allrounder he can be really useful,” said Mohsin.
While Malik has received some positive news, there was no such luck for Kamran Akmal and Danish Kaneria, who are also on the PCB radar for possible links with match-fixers. The duo continues to be on a PCB blacklist.
Pakistan squad: Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Taufiq Umar, Imran Farhat, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Rameez Raja Junior, Adnan Akmal, Saeed Ajmal, Yasir Shah, Sohail Tanveer, Sohail Khan, Junaid Khan, Aizaz Cheema.
Reserves: Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Khurram Manzoor, Sharjeel Khan, Mohammad Talha, Hammad Azam, Shoaib Malik (subject to clearance from PCB integrity committee).
Published by Unknown
on 23:48.
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