Former skipper Shahid Afridi's meeting with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Chaudhry Zaka Ashraf has proved fruitful for him, as he has been included in the Pakistan cricket team squad for the ODIs and Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka at home series at neutral venue at UAE.
Apart from Shahid Afridi, experienced all rounder Abdul Razzaq, pacer Sohail Tanveer have been recalled while Umar Akmal, Imran Farhat, Shoaib Malik, Sarfaraz Ahmed (WC) and Abdul Rehman have also been included in the 16-member squad. Pacer Wahab Riaz, batsmen Taufiq Umar and Azhar Ali and wicketkeeper Adnan Akmal could not impress the selectors.
Sohail Tanveer, Umer Akmal and Abdul Razzaq were part of the squad, which had won the Super Sixes tournament at Hong Kong. The squad was announced by Chief Selector Mohammad Ilyas after a meeting of PCB Chairman with officials of PCB here on Wednesday.
After the meeting, Ilyas told reporters that Shahid Afridi has been included in the team because he is fit. He, however, avoided media queries regarding Afridi's selection in the team. Afridi (31) who have played 587 One-day internationals said he is delighted to be back in the team and he is ready to extend his full support to captain Misbah-ul-Haq.
It may be noted that Afridi had retired from cricket in protest over the way he was treated by the PCB, following Pakistan's ODI series against the West Indies in April and May. The Pakistan cricket team will play five One-dayers, starting in Dubai on November 11, and a single Twenty20 match.
Pakistan squad: Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Imran Farhat, Mohammad Hafeez, Younus Khan, Umar Akmal, Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper), Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Shoaib Malik, Junaid Khan, Umar Gul, Aizaz Cheema, Sohail Tanvir, Saeed Ajmal and Abdul Rehman.