Shehzad, Gul dumped out of World T20 Pak squad

Pakistan have dropped two of their key players Ahmed Shehzad and fast bowler Umar Gul from the 15-man squad for the upcoming Asia Cup and World Twenty20 tournaments.

24-year-old Shehzad failed to impress selectors despite scoring a match-winning 71 off 46 balls for Quetta Gladiators against Karachi Kings in the inaugural edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

Reflecting on the same, chief selector Haroon Rasheed said that the decision had been taken after the consent of the entire team management and the skipper, the Dawn reported.

Rasheed stressed that the team had been chosen keeping in mind the conditions during the Asia Cup and the World T20 and described the squad as a fine blend of experienced and young players.

Meanwhile, uncapped left-arm fast bowler Rumman Raees and all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz have earned call-up to the squad following their impressive performances in the PSL.

Batsman Khurram Manzoor, who made his last appearance for Pakistan in a Test match in 2014, has been recalled in the Shahid Afridi-led squad.

The Asia Cup is slated to be held between February 24 to March 6, followed by the World T20, starting from March 8 in India.

The squad for the Asia Cup and the World T20 is as follows:

Shahid Afridi (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Irfan, Rumman Raees, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Babar Azam, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Amir, Umar Akmal, Sarfraz Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Anwar Ali, Khurram Manzoor.