LAHORE–January 1, 2016: Chairman PCB Shaharyar Mohammad Khan has approved the two 16-member Pakistan squads for the six-match T20I and ODI rubbers against New Zealand in the second half of January 2016 at the recommendation of the selection committee headed by Haroon Rashid.
“While picking the squads, the team management and skippers of each of the two formats were consulted by the selectors, and all concerned gave their consent in this regard.
In the first half of the six-match away series, Team Pakistan takes on Black Caps in three T20Is followed by an identical number of one-day internationals.
The T20Is would be played at Auckland, Hamilton and Wellington on January 15, 17 and 22 respectively, while the ODIs have been scheduled at Wellington, Napier and Auckland on January 25, 28 and 31.
“With ICC World T20 slated for March-April 2016, the T20 team has been selected with a view to provide opportunities to everyone likely to feature in the squad for the global event. The team is a fine blend of experience and youth and the selectors believe that it would acquit itself well on the tour”, said chief selector Haroon Rashid
16-member T20I squad:
Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Sohaib Maqsood, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shahid Afridi (captain), Imad Wasim, Anwar Ali, Amir Yamin, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Wahab Riaz, Umar Gul, Mohammad Rizwan, Saad Nasim, Mohammad Amir (Subject to grant of visa).
16-member ODI squad:
Ahmed Shehzad, Azhar Ali (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Sohaib Maqsood, Zafar Gohar, Imad Wasim, Anwar Ali, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Wahab Riaz, Rahat Ali, Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Amir (Subject to grant of visa).
Chief Selector Haroon Rashid Quotes:
“The team has been selected keeping in view the forthcoming ICC World T20, to be held in March-April 2016 in India.
“The selectors monitored the training and fitness camp to assess the current fitness levels and fielding standards. Imad Wasim is fully fit and his selection is likely to give greater balance to the team combination.
“Umar Gul too is back to full fitness and has bowled well in domestic competition and in the camp as well; we have opted to call him for his experience.
“On his international comeback, Mohammad Amir will travel with the team subject to grant of visa by the New Zealand government”.
