Mohammad Amir and Asif Ali have missed out on selection in the preliminary 15-man Pakistan World Cup squad that was announced late on Wednesday.
Since his playing a crucial role in Pakistan’s ICC Champions Trophy triumph in 2017, Amir has struggled to find any form. So much so that the Pakistan selectors have omitted the 27-year-old from their preliminary squad although he alongside Ali will have one final chance to prove their worth after being named in the 17-man squad for the England ODIs.
Sarfraz Ahmed will captain the side as predicted with experienced campaigners Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Hafeez also included although Hafeez remains a doubt because of injury.
Exciting young fast-bowling sensation Shaheen Shah Afridi has been included in the squad and will have a crucial role to play in the tournament as will key batsmen Babar Azam.
Azam boasts an ODI average of over 50 with a strike rate of 84.7. At just 24-years-old, the prolific right-hander already has eight centuries to his name as well as 10 fifties and will be central to any challenge the reigning ICC Champions Trophy champions can mount.
Pakistan World Cup squad: Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abid Ali, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Hafeez (subject to fitness), Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Junaid Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain
