PCB announces Pakistan squad for Independence Cup

LAHORE: Veteran all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez and pacer Wahab Riaz were dropped, as Pakistan Cricket Board named 15-member squad for Independence Cup on Friday.

The head coach Mickey Arthur wants to provide an opportunity to young talent in place of Hafeez, leaving the senior batsman’s inclusion in the three-match T20 series in doubt.

Meanwhile, fast bowler Wahab Riaz will not be part of the national squad for the World XI series. The pacer will leave for West Indies on August 27, where he will join Barbados Tridents for the remainder of the CPL season, Geo News quoted its sources said.

PCB chairman Najam Sethi announced a star-studded 14-member World XI squad on Thursday. Led by South Africa’s Faf du Plessis, the team will tour Pakistan for T20 matches scheduled for September 12, 13 and 15.

Squad:

Sarfraz Ahmed (Captain),

Usman Shinwari,

Mohammad Amir,

Faheem Ashraf,

Shoaib Malik,

Shadab Khan,

Imad Wasim,

Fakhar Zaman,

Ahmed Shehzad,

Hassan Ali,

Rumman Raees,

Sohail Khan,

Mohammad Nawaz,

Babar Azam,

Amir Yamin,

Umar Amin