Pakistan has announced its squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup, but it’s still unclear if the team will actually get to play. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) released the 15-player squad on Sunday and the team will be lead by Salman Agha. This comes a day after PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, also the interior minister of pakistan, said government approval is required before taking part in the tournament starting from February 7.
Pakistan’s first match will take place against Netherlands in Colombo on February 7. Head coach Aaqib Javed told reporters that picking board’s job was to pick the team, but the final call is with the government. “We’ve announced the team close to the deadline. Whether we play or not, that’s the government’s decision,” he said. Most matches are in India, but Pakistan will play only in Sri Lanka because of tensions with India. This arrangement allows Pakistan to compete without going to India.The tournament has already seen a change. Bangladesh refused to tour India over security concerns. They were replaced by Scotland, and the ICC did not accept Bangladesh’s reasoning.
The squad brings back some familiar players. Former captain Babar Azam returns. Fast bowlers Naseem Shah and Shadab Khant are once again back in the squad. Although many fans were surprised, because wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan has been left out.Pakistan also has three wicketkeepers: Khawaja Nafay, Sahibzada Farhan and Usman Khan. Shaheen Afridi, Fakhar Zaman, Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf and Saim Ayub kept their spots.
Full squad is also released and it includes: Salman Agha (captain), Babar Azam,Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Salman Mirza, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan, and Usman Tariq. With the tournament less than two weeks away, the team is ready but will have to wait for the government’s decision, Until then, everyone in Pakistan cricket is in a holding pattern.
Source: Reuters