Pakistan has announced a competent 17-member squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2023. And there comes a shocker as Saud Shakeel has been named in Pakistan’s squad for the marquee event. On the other hand, Tayyab Tahir who was initially named in the 17-member squad misses out from the clan, but he will be a part of their travelling reserves.
Shakeel has only played five ODIs for Pakistan but made an impressive start to his Test career as he has amassed six fifties and two Hundreds in seven Tests including a match-winning 208* against Sri Lanka in Galle. His blistering knock came when the home spinners dismantled Pakistan’s top order. He has scored 2489 runs in List A matches at an average of 44.44. Initially, Faheem Ashraf was selected in Shakeel’s place as Pakistan’s Chief Selector, Inzamam-Ul-Haq said that they preferred Faheem’s all-round capabilities over Shakeel’s specialist batting skills. Shakeel was only named for the Afghanistan ODI series. However, after considering his performance in the Afghanistan ODI series he was added to Asia Cup’s squad.
Saud Shakeel to join Pakistan in Asia Cup preparation beginning on Sunday
In the final ODI against Afghanistan, Shakeel scored 9 off 6 before getting run out. He will now move with Pakistan to Multan on Sunday where they will begin preparing for the marquee event. The Asia Cup-bound players who were a part of the Afghanistan series will return back to Multan on Sunday. A PCB release said Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, and Naseem Shah will travel to Lahore on Sunday and join the side on Monday evening. Pakistan is scheduled to play Nepal in the Asia Cup opener in Multan on August 30. On the other hand, Pakistan will face arch-rivals India in India’s opening clash on September 2 at Pallekele.
Pakistan Squad for Asia Cup 2023
Babar Azam (capt), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Fakhar Zaman, Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Saud Shakeel, Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Haris (wk), Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Wasim. Travelling reserve: Tayyab Tahir
Also read, MS Dhoni Clip Viral, Hardik Pandya denied Tilak Verma Fifty
