Babar, Shahdab, Naseem return to Pak squad for ODI series against Australia

PTI

LAHORE, May 22: Senior batter Babar Azam, all-rounder Shahdab Khan and pacer Naseem Shah on Friday returned to Pakistan’s ODI squad for the upcoming three-match series against Australia at home.

The Pakistani selectors have named a 16-member squad, which includes two wicket-keepers for the home series which begins on May 30 in Rawalpindi, with the remaining two games to be played in Lahore on June 2 and 4.

Left-arm fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi will continue to lead the ODI squad.

The selectors have dropped six players from the 15-member squad that went to Bangladesh in March and lost the series 1-2.

Mohammad Rizwan, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Saad Masood, Mohammad Wasim junior and Hussain Talat have been dropped from the squad that went to Bangladesh while Babar, Shadab and Naseem, who were not in that team have been recalled.

Openers Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub were unavailable for selection as they are nursing injuries.

The selectors have also picked up two uncapped players in the revamped side, in pacer Ahmed Daniyal and all-rounder Arafat Minhas.

Pakistan were beaten 0-2 in an away Test series by Bangladesh earlier this week.

The source said PCB was not happy with some players pulling out late from matches and series due to injuries. The board was also concerned that some players had managed to conceal fitness issues.

“Dr Javed Mughal who is now an important member of the PCB’s medical and sports medicine team also gave a detailed brief to the board on the national team’s support staff performance and requirements,” the source said.

Deacon, a former first class player in South Africa, joined the national team’s support staff back in 2017.

Shan Masood wants to continue as skipper: PCB sources

Despite calls for his ouster after Test series defeat against Bangladesh, Pakistan skipper Shan Masood wants to continue leading the national side in near future, sources in PCB indicated.

The knives are out for Masood even as the PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi remains tied up in his role as federal interior minister in the middle east conflict.

This apparently has left him little time to focus completely on cricket affairs as PCB chief.

A reliable source close to Masood disclosed that the senior player himself was still keen on continuing as captain but wanted structural changes in the way the Test squad is selected and management run.

Masood, who is known to have strong support from the lobbies of power that matter in Pakistan, the source added, was keen to complete the current ICC World Test Championship cycle.

“Shan has conveyed to the board that constant changes in the coaching positions and team management have not been very helpful for him as captain and his efforts to build a strong Test squad,” the source added.

Another well-informed source said so far no decision had been taken on the captaincy but a high level board meeting would be held after the Australia series and before the Test tour of West Indies to take decisions on the captaincy and Masood’s future.

PCB removes long-serving physio

The PCB has parted ways with long-serving team physiotherapist Cliffe Deacon, appointing Iftikhar in his place for the upcoming home ODI series against Australia.

Deacon, a South African who had been with the national side since 2017, apparently did not return with the Test squad from Bangladesh.

On Friday, the PCB named Iftikhar (one name given by PCB) as the physiotherapist for the Australia series, though it did not officially state the reasons behind Deacon’s exit.

Sources claim his tenure came to a close over recurring injury issues among players.