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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday (14 October) announced a change to their T20 World Cup squad. Swashbuckling batter Fakhar Zaman was promoted to the 15-member main squad while leg-spinner Usman Qadir has moved to the travelling reserves. The leg-spinner is still recovering from a hairline fracture on his thumb and hence has been moved to the reserve players.
“Pakistan have made one change in their squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Australia 2022 with Fakhar Zaman and Usman Qadir swapping places. Fakhar is included in the 15-player squad and Usman has moved to the traveling reserves,” said PCB in a statement.
“The change was necessary as Usman Qadir is yet to recover from a hairline fracture on his right thumb that he suffered during the 25 September T20I against England in Karachi. The leg-spinner will not be available for selection before 22 October.”
Fakhar Zaman will arrive in Brisbane from London along with Shaheen Shah Afridi who has recovered from his knee injury, on Saturday and will be available for selection in the two warm-up matches against England (17 October) and Afghanistan (19 October), during which the team management will assess the left-handed batter’s fitness.
Meanwhile, concerns are looming over Asif Ali's fitness who suffered an injury during the final of the T20 Tri-series played between New Zealand, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
Pakistan squad: Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Shan Masood.
Traveling reserves: Mohammad Haris, Shahnawaz Dahani and Usman Qadir.