KARACHI, Pakistan, CMC – Selectors have recalled Umar Akmal and Asad Shafiq to Pakistan’s One-Day International squad for the three-match series against West Indies starting Friday in Sharjah.
Umar Akmal … recalled to the ODI side to face West Indies.
The 26-year-old Akmal played the last of his 111 ODIs 18 months ago while Shafiq, 30, has played 58 ODIs but has spent the last year in the wilderness.
However, the experienced pair of Mohammad Hafeez and Umar Gul, with over 300 ODIs between them, have been left out after playing against England over the summer.
Azhar Ali, who will lead the squad, said the series against the Windies would be crucial for his side especially with the next World Cup in mind.
“The series against the West Indies is a good opportunity for us to put ourselves on the winning track,” he pointed out.
“We not only have to win the West Indies series but to perform very well in the future contests as well to improve our chances for 2019 World Cup. But there is definite hope and still a lot of time for the cut-off date for the World Cup qualification.”
The side also includes current Twenty20 captain, Sarfraz Ahmed, along with the likes of veteran Shoaib Malik, Sharjeel Khan and Babar Azam, all of whom are key members of the T20 squad.
Pakistan also face West Indies in the second ODI in Sharjah on October 2 before heading to Abu Dhabi for the final game three days later.
West Indies enter the series on a low after surrendering the ongoing T20 series by losing the first two games.
The final game is set for Tuesday in Abu Dhabi.
SQUAD – Azhar Ali (captain), Sharjeel Khan, Babar Azam, Asad Shafiq, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed, Umar Akmal, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Nawaz, Imad Wasim, Yasir Shah, Rahat Ali, Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz, Hasan Ali, Sohail Khan
