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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced two changes to the Pakistan Shaheens squad for the upcoming Top End T20 Series in Darwin, Australia, scheduled from August 14 to 24.
Batter Haider Ali has been replaced by Mohammad Faiq after being provisionally suspended on disciplinary grounds, while fast bowler Mohammad Wasim Jnr has been named in place of left-arm pacer Salman Mirza.
Salman, 31, was also excluded from the national team for the recently concluded T20I series against West Indies, despite an impressive debut in the Bangladesh series. He finished as the leading wicket-taker in that series with seven wickets in three matches at an economy rate of 5.21.
The Shaheens squad features experienced players, including Abdul Samad (five T20Is), Faisal Akram (three ODIs), and Mubasir Khan (one T20I). The team will be led by Muhammad Irfan Khan.
Shaheens will open their campaign against Bangladesh ‘A’ on August 14 at TIO Stadium, followed by matches against Scorchers (August 16) and Renegades (August 18) at the same venue. They will then face Kingsmen (August 19), Strikers (August 20), and Nepal (August 22) at DXC Arena. The semi-finals and final are scheduled for August 24.
Pakistan 15-member squad:
Muhammad Irfan Khan (c), Abdul Samad, Ahmed Daniyal, Faisal Akram, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay (wk), Maaz Sadaqat, Mehran Mumtaz, Mohammad Faiq, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Mubasir Khan, Saad Masood, Shahid Aziz, Ubaid Shah, Yasir Khan.
Team management:
Ghulam Ali (head coach), Sami Ullah Niazi (bowling coach), Mansoor Amjad (fielding coach), Muhammad Ibrahim (analyst), Muhammad Aleem (physio).
Fixtures:
Aug 14: vs Bangladesh ‘A’, TIO Stadium
Aug 16: vs Scorchers, TIO Stadium
Aug 18: vs Renegades, TIO Stadium
Aug 19: vs Kingsmen, DXC Arena
Aug 20: vs Strikers, DXC Arena
Aug 22: vs Nepal, DXC Arena
Aug 24: Semi-finals and final
