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Pakistan will play a high-pressure match against India in Dubai on October 24 to kick off their campaign
The Pakistani selectors announced the 15-man lineup for the 2020 World Cup next month on Monday, but refused to include veteran all-around player Shahib Malik, despite the team’s two years of struggling in mid-level batting.
Since Misbah-ul-Haq took over as the head coach in September 2019, Pakistan has tried 17 different players, but none of them succeeded.
This triggered calls to include the 39-year-old Malik, who participated in the last of his 116 Twenty20 international players in June 2020, but Chief Selection Officer Mohamed Wasim said that experts are the first choice.
Wasim said at a press conference in Lahore: “We focus on professional T20 players and consider the situation of the playing field and our opponents.”
Former captain and goalkeeper Safaraz Ahmed, all-around player Fahim Ashraf, and opener Shajir Khan also failed to advance, but included the 40-year-old veteran Mohamed Hafiz.
Another opener Fahal Zaman is included in the three reserves, they will travel with the team. They also include pacemakers Shahnawaz Dahani and Usman Qadir.
Asif Ali and Azam Khan, the powerful batsmen who misfired, were lucky to be included in the team. Ali has only scored two double-digit points in the past 10 Twenty20 international players.
Mohammad Wasim, a 20-year-old fast bowler, is also included, who has left a deep impression on the four 2020 international players he has played so far.
Babar Azam will be the team captain.
The team will also participate in five Twenty20 international matches against New Zealand later this month, as well as two T20I matches against England on October 14 and 15 before the World Cup.
Pakistan is in the second group with its rivals India, New Zealand, Afghanistan and two qualifiers that will be decided after the first round.
The first group includes the defending champions West Indies, Australia, England, South Africa and two qualifiers.
Pakistan will have a high-pressure match against India in Dubai on October 24 to kick off their election campaign.
The seventh match of the 2020 World Cup will be held in the UAE and Oman from October 17th to November 14th.
team: Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan, Asif Ali, Azam Khan, Harris Rauf, Hassan Ali, Imad Wasim, Kushdi Al Shah, Mohamed Hafiz, Mohamed Hasnein, Mohamed Nawaz, Mohamed Rizwan, Mohamed Wasim, Shahin Shah Afridi, Sohai Bou Maksoud
reserve: Fahal Zaman, Shanawaz Dahani, Usman Kadir
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