After being left out of Pakistan’s training camp on disciplinary grounds at the start of this month, the dashing Pakistan opener, Ahmed Shehzad, now has been omitted from the 22 probable list for the upcoming England tour in July-August. It has to be kept in concern that the stylish right-handed batsman has been in exceptional form and was the leading run-scorer during the recently concluded 50-over Pakistan Cup with 372 runs including a century and three half-centuries at a staggering average of 74.40.
The basis of selection for the English tour for Pakistan selectors has been the ongoing boot camp at the Pakistan Military Academy in Abbottabad and the players are said to be richly benefiting from it. The selected players will have to report for a skill camp after the boot camp ends between 20 May and 5 June.
The Pakistan selectors went for Sami Aslam, Shan Masood and Khurram Manzoor along with the veteran Mohammad Hafeez, who missed the training camp due to a knee injury, for the opening slots. Hafeez went for a medical test and those results will decide his availability.
Two uncapped youngsters, Asif Zakir and Akbar-ur-Rehman, have been credited for their first class performances and were also included in the probable list. Both the batsmen belong to Karachi and had an exceptional domestic season with Asif scoring 791 runs in 10 matches at an average of 56.60 and Rehman made 761 runs in the same number of matches at 58.53.
Surprise exclusion of Fawad Alam
Fawad Alam who was a member of England series last year in the UAE was a surprise exclusion, while Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-haq and Iftikhar Ahmed, who can contribute with his offspin, were included.
The selection committee head and Pakistan’s former captain, Inzaman-ul-Haq said, "We did consider him [Alam] for the selection, but we have a packed middle order with Younis Khan, Misbah, Asad Shafiq, and we have an option of Iftikhar Ahmed who can bowl off spin from which we can have an edge against left-hand batsmen."
Sarfaraz Ahmed, who was considerably poor during his fitness tests was picked with Rizwan as his backup option. Yasir Shah, who is currently undergoing rehabilitation for the knee injury that he has struggled with, was also included and is expected to be fit within a couple of weeks.
Wahab Riaz who is playing county cricket in England for Essex is supposed to join the team directly in England and will miss on the skill camp. Pakistan haven’t had problems when it comes to the fast bowling department and as many as seven seamers have been named including Mohammad Amir, Imran Khan, Junaid Khan, Rahat Ali, Ehsan Adil and Sohail Khan while Zulfiqar Babar is their second spinner.
Pakistan Squad for Skill Camp prior to UK Tour 2016
Openers: Muhammad Hafeez, Sami Aslam, Khurram Manzoor, Shaan Masood
Middle Order: Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Misbah ul Haq, Asad Shafiq, Iftikhar Ahmad, Asif Zakir, Akbar-ur-Rehman
Fast Bowlers: Mohammad Amir, Rahat Ali, Imran Khan, Sohail Khan, Junaid Khan, Ehsan Adil, Wahab Riaz
Spinners: Yasir Shah, Zulfiqar Babar
Wicket-Keepers: Sarfaraz Ahmad, Muhammad Rizwan
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