Sami, Sharjeel in as Pakistan make changes to World T20 squad

Asia Cup 2016

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Pakistan have added batsman Sharjeel Khan and fast bowler Mohammad Sami to their squads for the Asia Cup and World T20, following injuries to Babar Azam and Rumman Raees. The selectors also made another change to the World T20 squad, bringing in batsman Khalid Latif in place of Iftikhar Ahmed.

Azam has been ruled out for 3-4 weeks after suffering a fracture on his left forearm during a practice session in the ongoing Pakistan Super League. Raees has a Grade-1 hamstring strain and is “operating at 60% of his fitness currently”, the PCB stated in a release.

Their performances in the PSL played a part in the selection of all three players, according to PCB’s chairman of selectors Haroon Rashid. Sharjeel struck the first century of the league, scoring a 62-ball 117 against Peshawar Zalmi to propel Islamabad United into the final. Sharjeel is the third-highest run-scorer in the league so far, with 287 runs in ten innings at a strike rate of 151.05. Sami, Sharjeel’s Islamabad team-mate, has picked up 11 wickets in six matches, including a haul of 5 for 8 against Karachi Kings. Latif was included on the basis of his power-hitting in the PSL, according to Rashid, who also clarified that the batsman could not join the Asia Cup squad due to a technicality. Latif has scored 190 runs in six innings for Islamabad, at a strike rate of 114.45.

Sharjeel’s previous T20 international appearance was in December 2013, while Sami made his comeback into the Pakistan side after nearly three years during the home series against Zimbabwe in May 2015. Latif last played an international match for Pakistan in June 2012.