LAHORE: All-rounder Mubasir Khan has replaced right-arm pacer Mohammad Hasnain in the Pakistan Shaheens squad for the 19th Asian Games 2023, which will be played in Hangzhou, China from 28 September to 7 October.
Hasnain has not fully recovered from the ankle injury and has been ruled out from the upcoming cricketing event.
Making his way into the Pakistan Shaheens’ squad, Mubasir Khan has thus far played 40 first-class matches and 30 T20s.
In the shortest format, Mubasir Khan accumulated 242 runs with the bat while picking up eight wickets with the best bowling figures of 2/21.
To participate in their second Asian Games, Pakistan Shaheens’ training camp commenced on September 25.
Pakistan Shaheens has been participating in the brief four-day training camp at the National Cricket Academy Lahore, which will conclude on September 29, before the team’s departure for Hangzhou, China on September 30.
Pakistan Shaheens’ squad will take part in the practice session at Bob Woolmer Indoor School tomorrow.
Young all-rounder Qasim Akram will lead Pakistan Shaheens in the tournament, to be played in T20 format.
20-year-old Qasim, has till date featured in 20 first-class matches and 40 T20 matches and also captained Pakistan U19 in the ICC U19 World Cup in 2022.
In the 15-member squad, there are seven players who have already represented the Pakistan men’s team at the international level.
The players who have represented Pakistan at the international level are Aamir Jamal (2 T20Is), Arshad Iqbal (1 T20I), Asif Ali (21 ODIs, 55 T20Is), Haider Ali (2 ODIs, 33 T20Is), Khushdil Shah (10 ODIs, 24 T20Is), Shahnawaz Dahani (2 ODIs, 11 T20Is) and Usman Qadir (1 ODI, 23 T20Is).
Also, eight players in the 15-member squad, Aamir Jamal, Arafat Minhas, Arshad Iqbal, Omair Bin Yousuf, Qasim Akram, Rohail Nazir, Shahnawaz Dahani and Sufiyan Muqeem have been associated with the Shaheens side recently. Since May 2023, Pakistan Shaheens have toured Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka and Australia.
As per the rule of the Asian Games, Pakistan Shaheens will feature in the event from the quarter-finals stage scheduled to take place on 3 and 4 October.
The semi-finals will be played on 6 October, while the final will take place on 7 October. The match for the Bronze medal will also take place on Saturday, 7 October.
Pakistan’s men’s team won a bronze medal in their maiden and only appearance in the Asian Games held in Guangzhou, China, in 2010.
Pakistan Shaheens squad for the Asian Games 2023:
Qasim Akram (captain), Omair Bin Yousuf (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal, Arafat Minhas, Arshad Iqbal, Asif Ali, Haider Ali, Khushdil Shah, Mirza Tahir Baig, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Akhlaq (wk), Rohail Nazir, Shahnawaz Dahani, Sufiyan Muqeem and Usman Qadir
Non-travelling reserves – Abdul Wahid Bangalzai, Mehran Mumtaz, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Muhammad Irfan Khan Niazi and Mubasir Khan
Player Support Personnel – Shahid Aslam (head coach-cum-manager), Umar Rasheed (bowling coach), Hanif Malik (batting and fielding coach) and Hafiz Naeem ul Rasool (physiotherapist).
READ: Salman Ali Agha aims to bring ICC World Cup 2023 to Pakistan