Shoaib Malik to return home for personal reasons

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief Selector Inzimamul Haq has announced the 15-member team for the International Cricket Council World Cup 2019. All-rounder Muhammad Hafeez’s availability in the squad is subjected to his fitness, said the chief selector. Meanwhile, Abid Ali has been chosen as a third opener in the squad.

Aamir dropped, Junaid Khan picked

Fast bowler Muhammad Aamir has been dropped from the World Cup squad. Junaid Khan, Muhammad Hasnain, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Hassan Ali are expected to lead the Pakistani pace attack. “Aamir is an experienced bowler but unfortunately, his performance has not been as per par from last one year. I pray that he gets his rhythm back as seen in Champions Trophy final,” Inzimam said. Aamir and Asif Ali will accompany the team for the upcoming bilateral series against England, the chief selector announced. The selector admitted that ‘a little favour’ was given to Imad Wasim as despite failing the fitness test he was selected for the World Cup squad. All World Cup-bound players will take part in further training sessions and attend open media sessions at the Gaddafi Stadium on April 20 and 21. Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed and coach Mickey Arthur will hold their joint departure press conference at the Gaddafi Stadium on April 22. The team is scheduled to depart for England on Tuesday, April 23. Pakistan will play their first World Cup match against West Indies at Trent Bridge on May 31, after playing warmup matches against Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

Pakistan squad for ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019:

Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper, captain) Abid Ali Babar Azam Faheem Ashraf Fakhar Zaman Haris Sohail Hasan Ali Imad Wasim Imam-ul-Haq Junaid Khan Mohammad Hafeez Mohammad Hasnain Shadab Khan Shaheen Shah Afridi Shoaib Malik

Additional players for England T20I and ODIs:

Asif Ali Mohammad Amir

The following is the Pakistan cricket team’s schedule of England:

Series v England 27 April – v Kent (50-over practice match) (d) 29 April – v Northamptonshire (50-over match) (d) 1 May – v Leicestershire (T20 match) (d/n) 5 May – v England (only T20I), Cardiff (d) 8 May – 1st ODI v England, The Oval (d/n) 11 May – 2nd ODI v England, Hampshire (d) 14 May – 3rd ODI v England, Bristol (d/n) 17 May – 4th ODI v England, Trent Bridge (d/n) 19 May – 5th ODI v England, Leeds (d) ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 schedule 24 May – v Afghanistan (warm-up), Bristol (d) 26 May – v Bangladesh (warm-up), Cardiff (d) 31 May – v Windies, Trent Bridge (d) 3 June – v England, Trent Bridge (d) 7 June – v Sri Lanka, Bristol (d) 12 June – v Australia, Taunton (d) 16 June – v India, Old Trafford (d) 23 June – v South Africa, Lord’s (d) 26 June – v New Zealand, Edgbaston (d) 29 June – v Afghanistan, Headingley (d) 5 July – v Bangladesh, Lord’s (d/n)