Sarfaraz Ahmed (L) with Hasan Ali during a match. File

Gulf Today Report

Pakistan selectors on Thursday rested some senior players, including former captains Shoaib Malik and Sarfaraz Ahmed, for their limited over home series against the West Indies to be played later this month.

Besides Malik and Sarfaraz, fast bowler Hasan Ali and spinning allrounder Imad Wasim will also not be part of the Twenty20 and One-Day International squads.
Chief selector Mohammad Wasim said the players needed rest.

"We have been playing T20Is since October and now have a pretty settled and balanced side, so we have decided to rest Imad, Sarfaraz and Malik," Wasim said in a Pakistan Cricket Board )PCB) release.

Young fast bowler Mohammad Hasnain returns to the squad after missing the Twenty20 World Cup and series in Bangladesh.

Babar Azam will lead Pakistan against West Indies and Shadab Khan will continue as his vice-captain.

West Indies will play three Twenty20 internationals (December 13, 14 and 16) followed by as many one-day internationals (December 18, 20 and 22) all in Karachi.

Squad: (T20Is): Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan, Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shahnawaz Dahani, Usman Qadir

ODIS: Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan, Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imam-ul Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Mohammad Hasnain, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shahnawaz Dahani, Usman Qadir

Travelling reserve: Abdullah Shafique.

Squad for U19 Asia Cup and World Cup named

Meanwhile, Pakistan have also named their side for the upcoming U19 Asia Cup and the ICC Men's U19 Cricket World Cup. Lahore-born Qasim Akram has been named the captain of the side. PCB has named a 15-player squad for the ICC U19 CWC which will be played in January-February 2022 in the West Indies.

Skipper Qasim, openers Abdul Wahid Bangalzai and Mohammad Shehzad, and middle-order batter Irfan Khan Niazi will be making their second U19 CWC appearance having played in the previous edition in South Africa, where Pakistan finished third.