ICC Champions Trophy squad announced; Azhar, Umar make comeback

LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a 15-member squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 which is scheduled to be played in England and Wales from June 1, 2017 to June 18, 2017.

Former skipper Azhar Ali along with middler order baytsman Umar Akmal made their comeback in the team. Young leg spinner Shadab Khan and Fahim Ashraf have been retained in the side to give the team variety in the shape of spin and fast bowling all-rounders, respectively.

35-year-old Kamran was part of Pakistan’s squad which won a three-match one-day series 2-1 in the West Indies earlier this month but managed scores of 47, 21 and nought has been dropped.

Chief Selector Inzimam ul Haq talking to media said, “overall the team consists of experience and youth and the selectors believe that team will do well in the ICC event.”

“The team has been selected keeping in mind the conditions and the recent performances of some players in domestic and international tours,” he added.

The Sarfraz Ahmed-led side will play warm-up matches against Bangladesh (May 27 and Australia May 29 at Edgbaston) before taking on India in its opening match of the ICC Champions Trophy at Edgbaston on June 4, 2017.

Squad:

Sarfraz Ahmed (capt), Azhar Ali, Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Fakhar Zaman, Imad Wasim, Hasan Ali, Fahim Ashraf, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, Junaid Khan, Shadab Khan