'Saddening' to lose player like Sharjeel, insists Sarfraz

With batsman Sharjeel Khan being suspended by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for his alleged part in the infamous spot-fixing scandal during the first week of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Pakistan limited-overs skipper Sarfraz Ahmed has admitted that the loss of the 27-year-old batsman is a blow to his squad.

"It's saddening when you lose some players who are perfect for the setup," Sarfraz was quoted as saying by Express Tribune.

"Sharjeel was the type of player who we needed as he was perfect for the contemporary run-and-gun style of cricket."

Sharjeel, along with batsman Khalid Latif, was suspended by the PCB under its Anti-Corruption Code, as part of an ongoing investigation into an international syndicate which was believed to corrupt the second edition of the PSL.

However, Sarfraz has backed the newcomers to fill in the void on the upcoming tour of the West Indies.

"He isn't with us anymore so of course it will affect us but I have full faith in the newcomers and they will translate their domestic form at international level," said the Pakistan skipper.

Sharjeel, who made his Test debut against Australia in Sydney in January, has played 25 ODIs and 15 T20Is.

Yesterday, the PCB announced the Pakistan squads for the T20Is and the ODIs.

Pakistan T20I squad: Ahmed Shehzad, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Hafeez, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Fakhar Zaman, Sarfraz Ahmed (capt & wk), Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Tanvir, Rumman Raees, Hasan Ali, Usman Khan

Pakistan ODI squad: Ahmed Shehzad, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Hafeez, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Fakhar Zaman, Asif Zakir, Sarfraz Ahmed (capt & wk), Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, Fahim Ashraf, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Asghar.

The tour, comprising of three Tests, three ODIs and four T20Is, will begin from March 26.