The final ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 squad for team Pakistan is expected to be announced on Monday. An initial 15-member squadhad been announced by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) prior to the England series and teams had till May 23 to announce their final squads.
According to sources, Junaid Khan and Faheem Ashraf are expected to be dropped from the squad in favour of Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz. Sources add that Asif Ali will replace Abid Ali in the side.
Fast bowler Mohammad Amir included for the England series had been initially dropped from the World Cup squad. While he did not play in the ODI series against England, Amir has performed well in England in the past.
Shahdab Khan who was unable to play in the series against England due to illness has rejoined the team and will be retained in the squad.
The Pakistani bowling also failed to impress in the whitewash by England, leading to calls to make changes prior to the World Cup.
“We are not bowling and fielding up to the mark but the way we are batting I am very confident for the World Cup…Our openers and middle order are scoring runs and we have to sort out our fielding and bowling,” said skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed.
Initial squad for World Cup
Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper and captain), Abid Ali, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Hasan Ali, Imad Wasim, Imam-ul-Haq, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Hasnain, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Shoaib Malik
