PCB unveils squad for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup

WEB DESK: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially announced its 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, scheduled to be held in the USA and the Caribbean from 1st to 29th June.

Babar Azam will lead the team, showcasing a blend of seasoned campaigners and promising talents.

The squad, disclosed in alphabetical order, features Babar Azam (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Usman Khan. Notably, no reserves have been declared alongside the primary squad.

In addition to the players, a comprehensive support staff has been appointed to guide and assist the team throughout the tournament. The support personnel comprises Wahab Riaz (senior team manager), Mansoor Rana (team manager), Gary Kirsten (head coach), Azhar Mahmood (assistant coach), Simon Helmot (fielding coach), David Reid (mental performance coach), Aftab Khan (high-performance coach), Cliffe Deacon (physiotherapist), Irtaza Komail (chief security officer), Mohammad Imran (masseur), Mohammad Khurram Sarwar (team doctor), Talha Ijaz (analyst), Raza Kitchlew (media and digital manager), and Drikus Saaiman (strength and conditioning coach).

The confirmation of the squad came after a meticulous two-hour selection committee meeting held on Friday afternoon, UK time. The meeting was attended by notable figures including Abdul Razzaq, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Bilal Afzal, Gary Kirsten, Mohammad Yousuf, and Wahab Riaz.

Among the chosen 15 players, Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Saim Ayub, and Usman Khan are set to make their maiden appearance in the T20 World Cup, while Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim return after featuring in the 2016 and 2021 editions respectively. The remaining eight players bring with them the experience of participating in the 2022 event held in Australia.

Speaking about the composition of the squad, a PCB spokesperson stated, “This is an extremely talented and balanced side that has a mixture of youth and experience. These players have been playing together for some time and look well prepared and settled for next month’s event.”

Regarding the fitness of Haris Rauf, the spokesperson added, “Haris Rauf is fully fit and bowling well in the nets. It would have been nice if he had gotten an outing at Headingley, but we remain confident that he will continue to maintain an upward trajectory in the upcoming matches, as he will have an important role to play along with other strike bowlers in the T20 World Cup.”

Pakistan boasts an illustrious history in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, having clinched the title in 2009 under Younis Khan’s captaincy. The team also reached the finals twice under the leadership of Shoaib Malik (2007) and Babar Azam (2022), and reached the semi-finals in 2010, 2012, and 2021.

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