Sharjeel Khan, Mohammad Sami and Khalid Latif have all been added to Pakistan’s ICC World Twenty20 squad.
Babar Azam and Ruman Raees have been forced to pull out with arm and hamstring injuries respectively, handing batsman Sharjeel and veteran paceman Sami a chance.
Batsman Latif has been drafted in at the expense of Iftikhar Ahmed after he also impressed in the recent Pakistan Super League.
Selection committee chairman Haroon Rashid said: “After having looked at the performance of the players in the PSL competition, the selection committee along with captain Shahid Afridi and head coach Waqar Younis have come to the conclusion that keeping in view the outstanding performances of Sharjeel Khan and Mohammad Sami in PSL matches, they should be included as replacements for injured Babar Azam and Ruman Raees respectively for both Asia Cup and World Cup.
“Since we have the option available to bring in changes in our World Cup squad before the support period starting from March 8, 2016, it has also been decided to use this option and decided to include Khalid Latif, who showed tremendous display of power hitting in the PSL matches, which paved the way for his inclusion in the World Cup squad in place of Iftikhar Ahmed.”
The Pakistan government gave the green light for the team to take part in the World T20 this morning.
Former international all-rounder Azhar Mahmood, a NatWest T20 Blast signing for Surrey again this season, will stand in as Pakistan bowling coach for the tournament, allowing Mushtaq Ahmed time to rest ahead of the summer’s tour of England.
Pakistan squad: Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Sarfraz Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Anwar Ali, Mohammad Irfan, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Nawaz, Khurram Manzoor, Sharjeel Khan, Mohammad Sami, Khalid Latif.
Source: ECB