‘Kya team hain yarr’- Fans react as Pakistan Cricket Board announces squad for Asia Cup and Afghanistan series

Pakistan Cricket Board have announced their 18-men squad for the forthcoming Asia Cup and Afghanistan series. Inzamam-ul-Haq, the head of the national men’s selection committee, named the squads. The continental championship is scheduled to be played from August 30 to September 17 in Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

The Asian Giants, who have the hosting rights of the competition, will be in action on the very first day of the tournament. They will be taking on tournament debutants Nepal in the Asia Cup opener. Pakistan, Nepal, and Team India are in Group A while reigning champions Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh are in Group B.

Shan Masood and Imad Wasim were left out

The side’s openers are Abdullah Shaqfique, Fakhar Zaman, and Imam-ul-Haq. Mohammad Haris has been named as Mohammad Rizwan’s backup wicketkeeper batter. Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, and Usama Mir will lead the attack in the spin-bowling department. Faheem Ashraf, the pace-bowling all-rounder, has returned to the ODI team after a two-year absence. He last appeared for Pakistan in an ODI in July 2021.

Tayyab Tahir and Saud Shakeel have also been named to the Afghanistan ODI team. Shakeel, on the other hand, will not compete in the Asia Cup. Without Shakeel, the squad will be reduced to 17 members for the Asia Cup. Shan Masood has been left out and so has Imad Wasim.

“The team will assemble in Hambantota on 18 August with the players in Pakistan departing on 17 August. The players in Pakistan will hold a three-day camp on 14, 15 and 16 August at the National Cricket Academy, Lahore,” a statement from PCB said. The 3-match ODI series against Afghanistan starts on August 22 in Hambantota in Sri Lanka. They will be going all guns blazing to win the Asia Cup.

Pakistan Squad For Asia Cup 2023

Babar Azam (c), Fakhar, M Rizwan, Shadab Khan, Abdullah Shafique, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imam Ul Haq, M Haris, M Wasim Jr, Saud Shakeel, Naseem Shah, Agha Salman, Shaheen Afridi, Tayyab Tahir, Usama Mir

Here’s how fans reacted