Pakistan Announces T20 Squad Despite Previous Stance on World Cup Participation

Islamabad. Despite indicating an intention not to play the T20 World Cup in support of Bangladesh, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced its squad on Sunday.

The 15-member squad was announced at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore by PCB High Performance Director and men's selection committee member Aqib Javed, Pakistan's T20 captain Salman Ali Agha, and White Ball Head Coach Michael James Hesson.

Salman Ali Agha has been appointed captain. Senior players like Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, and Shaheen Shah Afridi have also been included in the squad. The Pakistani team will play its first match against the Netherlands in Colombo on February 7.

This is the Pakistan squad

Salman Ali Agha (Captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Mohammad Naufal (Wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (Wicketkeeper), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (Wicketkeeper), and Usman Tariq.

One day prior, after Bangladesh withdrew, PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi stated that the Pakistani team would also not play the World Cup if directed by the Pakistani government. Subsequently, the ICC warned that permission for the PSL would not be granted if they withdrew from the World Cup.