PCB announces 15-member squad for the upcoming series against Afghanistan

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has revealed the names of the players who will be going to the UAE to play a three-match series against Afghanistan. All-rounder Shadab Khan has been named the captain for the squad

Najam Sethi and Chief Selector Haroon Rashid made the announcement of the squad members. The players included in the squad are: Shadab Khan (captain) Abdullah Shafique, Azam Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Ihsanullah, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Junior, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood, Tayyab Tahir and Zaman Khan.

Some key players who have been rested for the series include, skipper Babar Azam, batsman Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Rizwan, Haris Rauf and Lahore Qalandars skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi. Both the pacers have had knee injuries in the past few months and have shown great improvement, Shaheen Afridi has shown good form the in the ongoing PSL however, the players have been left out to manage their workload.

In a statement Najam Sethi revealed that Mohammad Yousuf has been appointed and interim head and batting coach for the short Sharjah tour.

Haroon Rasheed congratulated players like Ihsanullah, Saim Ayub, Tayyab Tahir and Zaman Khan for their inclusion in the squad and said that Azam Khan, Abdullah Shafique, Faheem Ashraf and Imad Wasim have been recalled due their good form the in the ongoing PSL and also provide experience and stability in the squad.

Talking about the rested players he said, “Babar, Fakhar, Haris, Rizwan and Shaheen have been provided breaks from the short Sharjah trip to allow them to switch off from competitive cricket so that they can complete their rehabilitations, regroup, recompose and recharge their batteries and be fully fit for the challenges in the tough and challenging 2023-24 season.”