Two new faces in Pakistan squad for World Twenty20

LAHORE - The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced a 15-member team for the Twenty20 World Cup to be held in England in coming June. Struggling fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has been retained in the team while Shahzaib Hassan, Mohammad Amir are the other two new faces in the team playing in UAE against Australia. The selection committee snubbed the ICL players Abdul Razzak, Imran Nazir, Rana Naveed and Mohammad Yousuf despite showing their desire for Pakistan return after quitting the ICL. Amir and Shahzaib are the two uncapped players in the team. Amir is a left arm-pace bowler while Shahzaib is hard-hitting opener, who the PCB selection committee believes suits the twenty20 format. The selectors did not consider rebel players Razzaq, Nazir and Rana Naved who had been named in the 30-man preliminary squad last month. It is believed that the PCB like the BCCI wanted to keep the ICL players on domestic circuit for a least one year before considering them for selection. Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal was included in the squad despite being reported for a suspect illegal action following the second one-day international against Australia last month. Ajmal has to undergo an examination of his bowling action within 21 days of being reported by the match officials and can only play if the ICC bowling action review committee clears his action. Yasir Arafat too has been picked in them despite reports that he has been backed by one member of the governing board for selection in three matches of the Aussie series. Led by ever-smiling Younis the rest of the team is the same wich is playing in the UAE. The team: Younis Khan (captain), Salman Butt, Ahmed Shahzad, Misbahul Haq (Vice Captain), Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, Karman Akmal, Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gull, Fawad Alam, Suhail Tanvir, Yasir Arafat, Shahzaib Hassan, Muhammad Amir.

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