Pakistan have welcomed Shadab Khan back into their T20 set-up and handed a maiden call-up to the uncapped Khawaja Nafay for next month’s three-match series against Sri Lanka in Dambulla.
The leg-spinning all-rounder has not played international cricket since June, when he picked up four wickets and chipped in with 55 runs during a 3-0 home sweep of Bangladesh. A recurring right-shoulder problem then required surgery. After a nine-month rehabilitation, Shadab returned to competitive action on 16 December with Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League.
“I’ve missed the buzz of international cricket,” Shadab told local media in Sydney earlier this week. “The shoulder feels good again and I’m hungry to contribute with both bat and ball.”
Selectors have resisted the temptation to draft in the other Pakistan stars currently involved in the BBL – Shaheen Shah Afridi, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Haris Rauf and Hasan Ali all remain in Australia. Chief selector Wahab Riaz said the decision was “about workload and giving newer faces a final audition before the World Cup.”
That thinking explains Nafay’s inclusion. The 23-year-old right-hander, who keeps wicket when required, struck at 132.81 in 32 domestic T20 outings and impressed during November’s Abu Dhabi T10. Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja described Nafay as “a clean striker with a calm head”, adding on his YouTube channel that the youngster “could slot into the middle order without fuss.”
Salman Agha continues as captain, a role he has held since the start of the current World Cup build-up. He called the squad “a balanced group that gives us plenty of options in the powerplay and at the death.” With the global tournament only six weeks away, these matches in Sri Lanka are Pakistan’s last competitive run-out.
Series schedule
7 January – 1st T20I, Dambulla
9 January – 2nd T20I, Dambulla
11 January – 3rd T20I, Dambulla
Pakistan squad
Salman Agha (capt), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmad, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wk), Usman Tariq.
“Every player knows the World Cup is around the corner,” Salman added. “Sri Lanka will test us in their own conditions, and that’s exactly what we need.”
Expect final selections for the World Cup to be confirmed shortly after the Dambulla series concludes.
