Pakistan World Cup squad to be announced today

The Pakistan team squad for the 2019 International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup will be announced today.

The chairman of the men’s selection committee Inzamamul Haq will announce a 15-member squad, from the list of 23 players that went through the fitness test conducted in National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore.

Two additional players will also be announced along with the 15 members, who will take part in the bilateral limited-overs series against England ahead of the World Cup.

Left-hand batsmen Fakhar Zaman and Imamul Haq are confirmed as regular openers for the squad. Hence, the battle for the third opener slot is between Abid Ali and Shan Masood.

Ali has passed his fitness test today, which has raised his chances of selection. Ali can also keep wickets and thus can fill the role of back-up wicketkeeper instead of wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan.

Left-arm pacer Mohammad Amir has been struggling to pick wickets off late, however his experience in England can work in his favour. Young pacer Mohammad Hasnain has also cleared his fitness test, earlier today, due to which he can receive a nod ahead of left arm pacers Junaid Khan and Usman Shinwari.

Veteran all-rounders Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik are likely to form the core of the middle-order as Pakistan will look towards their experience.

All-rounder Imad Wasim is recovering from a knee injury and is expected to undergo another fitness test today, which will determine his selection for the mega event.

The Pakistan team will leave for England on Tuesday, April 23.

Probable Squad for World Cup: Sarfaraz Ahmed (C), Fakhar Zaman, Imamul Haq, Abid Ali, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Hafeez, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain