Pakistan recall Muhammad Hafeez for Zimbabwe tour

Muhammad Hafeez, who has been cleared to bowl again in international cricket again, makes a comeback to the team after last playing in January in New Zealand.

Pic Courtesy: Reuters

Karachi: Selectors have recalled experienced all-rounder Muhammad Hafeez to the Pakistan squad for a tour of Zimbabwe where the team plays a T20 series also involving Australia and a five-match ODI series with the hosts.

The selectors apparently also turned down a request from left-arm pacer Muhammad Aamir to be given a break as he was named in both the T20 and ODI squads.

Hafeez, who has been cleared to bowl again in international cricket again, makes a comeback to the team after last playing in January in New Zealand.

The veteran of 50 tests, 200 ODIs and 81 T20 Internationals, whose bowling action was cleared for the third time in three years in May, had lashed out at the implementation of rules on bowling action by the sports world governing body ICC.

The selectors sidelined opener Ahmed Shehzad from the T20 squad confirming reports that he has tested positive in a dope test for marijuana.

Shehzad was in the squad that played two T20 internationals in Scotland earlier this month.

The selectors also didn't consider all-rounder Imad Wasim who didn't clear a fitness test on Friday in Lahore while batsman Babar Azam was also named in the ODI squad but subject to passing a fitness test.

Babar had suffered a fracture in his arm in a Test in England last month while Imad has been struggling with a knee injury for some months now.

The selectors called up pacer Junaid Khan and leg-spinner Yasir Shah in the ODI squad after they passed fitness tests at the national cricket academy.

Yasir, who missed the Tests in Ireland and England last month due to a hip injury, will team up with young leg-spin all-rounder Shadab Khan for the ODI matches in Zimbabwe.

The selectors have also picked uncapped batsman Sahabzada Farhan for the T20 tri-series which will take place in Harare from July 1 to 8 with Australia and Zimbabwe the other teams in the competition.

Pakistan T20 squad: Fakhar Zaman, Muhammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Hussain Talat, Sarfaraz Ahmed (Capt), Haris Sohail, Shadab Khan, Muhammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Hassan Ali, Muhammad Aamir, Usman Khan Shinwari, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Sahabzada Farhan.

ODI squad: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Muhammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Haris Sohail, Babar Azam (subject to fitness), Sarfaraz Ahmed (Capt), Shadab Khan, Muhammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Junaid Khan, Hassan Ali, Muhammad Aamir, Usman Khan Shinwari, Yasir Shah.