Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have announced their 15-man squad for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 in England and Wales, and there is no place for Mohammad Amir who has been omitted in favour of left-arm pace bowler Junaid Khan.
Amir has, however, been picked among the 17 players for five ODIs against England in May before the World Cup. The hard-hitting batsman Asif Ali also didn’t find place in the World Cup squad but like Amir is in line to play against England.
Amir was expected to be named despite managing just five wickets at 92.60 apiece since the 2017 Champions Trophy final, but he has lost out to Junaid.
Also, senior batsman Mohammad Hafeez has been included in the 15-man squad, but his inclusion will be subject to fitness. Hafeez suffered a hand injury earlier this year, and was even replaced by Salman Butt in the Lahore Qalandar’s squad in this year’s Pakistan Super League.
The spin-bowling allrounder Imad Wasim, who failed the unofficial fitness test, has been picked after being allowed more time to prove his worth.
Pakistan will begin their World Cup campaign on May 31 against the Windies at Trent Bridge.
Pakistan’s squad for the 2019 World Cup:
Sarfaraz Ahmed (c & wk), Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abid Ali, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Hafeez, Haris Sohail, Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Hasan Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Hasnain.
