Fit again Shadab Khan returns back for West Indies ODIs

Star all rounder Shadab Khan has been named in the 16-man Pakistan squad for the upcoming ODI series against West Indies. The 23-year old had missed the ODIs against Australia due to a groin injury and is set to make a comeback to white ball cricket alongside all rounder Mohommad Nawaz. 

Pakistan have reduced their squad to 16 from 21 named for the Australia series given the forthcoming games will not be played in a Managed Event Environment and thus if the need arises, selectors can pick players mid-series. Asif Afridi, Asif Ali, Haidar Ali and Usman Qadir are the notable names excluded from the squad. Saud Shakeel, who is scheduled to undergo surgery for sinusitis,was also not considered. 

Squad: Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan (vc), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Junior, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shahnawaz Dahani and Zahid Mahmood.

"As the ODIs against the West Indies are part of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 qualification, we have decided to give best chance to our side to collect maximum points and strengthen our chances of progressing directly for the pinnacle 50-over tournament," chief selector Muhammad Wasim said. "We have retained the same core of players so they further establish themselves in the format. I hope this bunch will continue the form they gained from the Australia series.

"For the Australia ODIs, we had also announced backup players as cover to those players who were carrying injuries. Players such as Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan are now fully fit, which has allowed us to leave out Asif Afridi and Usman Qadir. However, Usman along with Asif Ali and Haider Ali remain in our plans for the shortest format as we have a series of T20Is lined up this year, including the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022."

The Pakistan squad will gather in Rawalpindi on June 1 for a training camp and will be joined there by Haris Raud, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Rizwan and Shadab Khan, who are currently competing in the County Championship. The three ODI are scheduled to be played at the Pindi Cricket Stadium on June 8,10 and 12.