Senior players Wahab Riaz, Umar Akmal and Ahmad Shahzad have not been summoned by the national led selection committee, headed by former Test captain Inzamamul Haq, for the final fitness tests being conducted ahead of World Cup squad selection. The PCB on Thursday released a list of 23 probables, who have been invited for a two-day fitness tests scheduled on April 15 and 16 here at the National Cricket Academy after consultations between chief selector Inzamam and head coach Mickey Arthur. Umar, who followed up a brilliant 136 with another blistering innings of 99 in the ongoing Pakistan National One-day Cup on Thursday, has surprisingly not been invited to take the fitness tests. The middle order batsman was recalled for the ODI series against Australia last month after being left out in the cold for more than two and half years. His top score against Australia was 48 and was also earned the wrath of the board for partying beyond midnight thereby breaching the code of conduct. Strangely the selectors have invited another middle order batsman, Asif Ali, for the fitness tests although the batsman was dropped for the ODI series against Australia.
Other notable omissions from the fitness test list are left arm pacer Riaz, who had a five-wicket haul in the National Cup on Wednesday and opener Shahzad, who impressed with four half centuries in the last five matches of the Pakistan Super League, including the final. The selectors have kept faith with all six players who were rested for the Australia series while senior all-rounder, Muhammad Hafeez has also been asked to appear for the fitness trials. Arthur has said that there will be no compromises made on fitness of any player while selecting the World Cup squad. The PCB also confirmed that the final World Cup squad will be announced on April 18 with the Pakistan team departing on April 23 for England.
Pakistan probables:
Sarfaraz Ahmed (capt), Abid Ali, Asif Ali, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Hassan Ali, Imad Wasim, Imamul Haq, Junaid Khan, Muhammad Abbas, Muhammad Aamir, Muhammad Hafeez, Muhammad Hasnain, Muhammad Nawaz, Muhammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Shoaib Malik, Usman Khan Shinwari and Yasir Shah.
The following is the Pakistan cricket team’s schedule of England:
Series v England
23 April – Departure for England
27 April – v Kent (50-over practice match) (d)
29 April – v Northamptonshire (50-over match) (d)
1 May – v Leicestershire (T20 match) (d/n)
5 May – v England (only T20I), Cardiff (d)
8 May – 1st ODI v England, The Oval (d)
11 May – 2nd ODI v England, Hampshire (d)
14 May – 3rd ODI v England, Bristol (d)
17 May – 4th ODI v England, Trent Bridge (d)
19 May – 5th ODI v England, Leeds (d)
ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 schedule:
24 May – v Afghanistan (warm-up), Bristol (d)
26 May – v Bangladesh (warm-up), Cardiff (d)
31 May – v West Indies, Trent Bridge (d)
3 June – v England, Trent Bridge (d)
7 June – v Sri Lanka, Bristol (d)
12 June – v Australia, Taunton (d)
16 June – v India, Old Trafford (d)
23 June – v South Africa, Lord’s (d)
26 June – v New Zealand, Edgbaston (d)
29 June – v Afghanistan, Headingley (d)
5 July – v Bangladesh, Lord’s (d/n)