Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the 16-member national cricket team squad for the upcoming 2018 Asia Cup in UAE, starting from September 15.
While the experienced all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez and the experienced leg-spinner Yasir Shah have been dropped out from the Asia Cup squad, who played in the last ODI series in Zimbabwe, the opening batsman Shan Masood and young left-arm pacer Shaheen Afridi have been added in the upcoming Asia Cup squad that will be led by Sarfraz Ahmed. The other Pakistan squad that participated on the Zimbabwe tour, has been remained unchanged including Haris Sohail, who returned to the nation ahead of the third ODI due to his daughter’s illness.
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The 28-year-old Pakistan opening batsman Masood has 12 Test experiences from 2013 to 2017 but the left-handed batsman is still waiting to make his debut in the limited-overs international cricket.
Meanwhile, the 18-year-old left-arm pacer Shaheen Afridi has recently made his T20I debut in this April against Windies at Karachi and also featured in the recent Zimbabwe T20I tri-nation series (Zimbabwe, Pakistan and Australia) that was won by Pakistan after beating Australia in the final.
The new PCB chairman Ehsan Mani led the selection committee which has focused on youths for the upcoming Asia Cup.
In the 2018 Asia Cup, Pakistan is in Group A with arch-rivals India and the ongoing Qualifier champions. Pakistan will start their Asia Cup journey on September 16 against the only qualified team in the tournament and then they will play against India on September 19.
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At the end of the Group Stages, the top two teams from each Group will qualify for the Super Four round where each team will play against all other three teams once from September 21 to 26. It means once again each team will play against their one Group Stages team during the Super Four round.
The top two teams in the final points table will advance for the final that will be played on September 28 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium (Dubai).
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In the Asia Cup history, Pakistan has won this trophy twice (2000 and 2012) while they have ended as runners-up for two more times (1996 and 2014).
Pakistan full member Squad for Asia Cup 2018:
Sarfraz Ahmed (c/wk), Fakhar Zaman, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Amir, Shadab Khan, Imam ul Haq, Shan Masood, Babar Azam, Asif Ali, Haris Sohail, Mohammad Nawaz, Fahim Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Junaid Khan, Usman Shinwari, Shaheen Afridi.
