Hasan Nawaz out as PCB selectors name national squads for Sri Lanka ODIs, tri series

Staff Report

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Sunday announced the Pakistan squads for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka and the T20I tri-nation series featuring Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe. Right-handed batter Hasan Nawaz has been released from the Pakistan men’s squad to participate in the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, the country’s premier first-class tournament, with the seventh round starting on November 11. Left-handed batter Fakhar Zaman has been added to the T20I squad in Hasan’s place, while no replacement has been named for the ODI squad. The men in green recently concluded a home series against South Africa, which proved vital for preparation. Pakistan defeated the Proteas in both the T20I and ODI series, winning the latter 2-1, while the Test series ended in a 1-1 draw. The ODI series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka will be held at Rawalpindi on November 11, 13 and 15. Historically, the two sides have faced each other 157 times in ODIs, with Pakistan winning 93 matches, Sri Lanka 59, four matches ending with no result, and one match tied. Following the ODI leg, Zimbabwe will join Pakistan and Sri Lanka for the T20I tri-series, starting on November 17. The opening two matches will be played in Rawalpindi, before the tournament moves to Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium for the remaining fixtures, including the final on November 29.

Updated 15-member ODI squad: Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha

Updated 15-member T20I squad: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wicket-keeper), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan (wicket-keeper), Usman Tariq

Match officials:

Pakistan’s Ali Naqvi will officiate the three-match ODI series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka as match referee. The series will be played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from 11 to 15 November. England’s Alexander Wharf, a member of the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires, will stand as on-field umpire for the first ODI alongside Pakistan’s Asif Yaqoob (ICC Emerging Panel of Umpires). Bangladesh’s Saikat Sharfuddoula, also part of the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires, will be the third umpire, while Rashid Riaz (ICC International Panel of Umpires) will serve as the fourth umpire. For the second ODI on November 13, Saikat Sharfuddoula will be joined by Faisal Afridi (ICC International Panel of Umpires) as on-field umpires. Alexander Wharf will act as third umpire, while Asif Yaqoob will perform duties of fourth umpire. The third ODI on November 15 will see Alexander Wharf and Rashid Riaz officiating as on-field umpires, with Saikat Sharfuddoula and Faisal Afridi serving as third and fourth umpires, respectively.