LAHORE: All-rounder Salman Ali Agha earned his maiden call-up, while fast bowlers Haris Rauf and Hasan Ali have returned to the Pakistan squad for the upcoming tours of Ireland and England.
The national selection committee members Abdul Razzaq, Bilal Afzal, Mohammad Yousuf and Wahab Riaz announced the 18-member Pakistan squad during a press conference here on Thursday.
Rauf recovered from his shoulder injury, which he suffered during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season nine against Karachi Kings in February.
He missed most part of the PSL 9 and the recently concluded T20I series against New Zealand due to the aforementioned injury.
Along with Rauf, wicketkeeper Azam Khan was also sidelined for the New Zealand T20Is due to a calf injury, while middle-order batter Muhammad Irfan Khan and wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan were rested from the two T20Is in Lahore due to niggles.
The four cricketers underwent fitness assessments at the National Cricket Academy on Tuesday afternoon, showing significant improvement.
This progress has provided confidence and encouragement to the PCB Medical Panel and the team management regarding their potential availability during the seven T20Is.
Meanwhile, Agha was called up on the back of his impressive performance in the PSL 9, where he scored 310 runs for Islamabad United at a strike rate of 140.27.
Hasan Ali, who last played a T20I match against Sri Lanka in Asia Cup 2022, was called back owing to his extensive experience, having featured in 50 T20Is and excelling in bilateral series and ICC Events. He claimed 14 wickets in 10 games during PSL 9.
Meanwhile, leg spinner Usama Mir, who was the highest wicket-taker in the PSL 9, and pace bowler Zaman Khan were dropped from the squads for the Ireland and England series.
The team is scheduled to depart for Dublin on 7 May following a three-day training camp in Lahore from 4-6 May.
The national team will play a three-match T20I series against Ireland from 10 May, followed by a four-match series against England.
Pakistan will announce the squad for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 after the first T20I against England, scheduled on 22 May.
Babar Azam (c), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayyub, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Usman Khan
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