Pakistan has announced its 15-man squad for the T20 World Cup. The team, led by captain Babar Azam, includes several players who have experience playing in the Caribbean Premier League. Fast bowler Mohammad Amir and allrounder Imad Wasim have made a successful return from retirement to be included in the squad. Despite not playing competitive cricket since dislocating his shoulder in late February, fast bowler Haris Rauf was also chosen for the squad. Rauf has been participating in net sessions without any issues and is known for his express pace, which is expected to be an asset in the T20 World Cup.
The Pakistan Cricket Board revealed that there will be no travelling reserves in their squad. The team is set to open against the host U.S. on June 6 in Dallas, with group games scheduled against India, Canada, and Ireland. The top two teams from the group stage will advance to the next round.
Pakistan has a strong history at the T20 World Cup, having reached the final in 2007 and winning the tournament in 2009. Under Babar Azam’s leadership, the team made it to the semifinals in 2021 and finished as runners-up in 2022. Several players will be making their T20 World Cup debut for Pakistan this year, including leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed, wicketkeeper-batter Azam Khan, fast bowler Abbas Afridi, opening batter Saim Ayub, and middle-order batter Usman Khan. Usman Khan had a subpar performance in his first T20 series against New Zealand last month but was previously banned by the Emirates Cricket Board due to a doping offence which he served a four year ban for it before being cleared by ICC’s anti-corruption commission earlier this year.
The tournament is set to begin on June 1 in
