Asia Cup 2018: Mohammed Hafeez, Yasir Shah dropped from Pakistan squad

Pakistan will begin their Asia Cup 2018 campaign with a league game against Hong Kong on September 16 at 5:00 pm (IST)

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) selectors dropped seasoned campaigners Mohammed Hafeez and Yasir Shah from the Sarfraz Ahmed-led 16 member squad for the Asia Cup 2018, to be played in the United Arab Emirates from September 15. The selection committee headed by the new PCB chairman Ehsan Mani has however added a couple of rookies in 18-year-old pacer Shaheen Afridi and opener Shan Masood for the six-nation tournament.

The rest of the squad remains unchanged from Pakistan's last five-match One-day International (ODI) series against Zimbabwe. Pakistan begin their Asia Cup campaign with a league game against the winner of the ongoing Asia Cup Qualifier on September 16 before facing arch-rivals India on September 19.

 

"We conducted fitness tests and since there is no compromise on fitness we have not included Hafeez and Imad Wasim," Inzamam told media while announcing the squad in Lahore. Six teams are divided in two groups. Top two sides are culled for the Super Four rounds, after which the top two finishers go to the September 28 final in Dubai.

 

Pakistan squad for Asia Cup 2018

 

 

Player name	Batsman/Bowler/All-rounder
Fakhar Zaman	Batsman
Imam-ul-Haq	Batsman
Babar Azam	Batsman
Shan Masood	All-rounder
Sarfraz Ahmed(c)	Wicket-keeper
Shoaib Malik	All-rounder
Haris Sohail	All-rounder
Shadab Khan	All-rounder
Mohammad Nawaz	All-rounder
Faheem Ashraf	All-rounder
Hasan Ali	Bowler
Junaid Khan	Bowler
Usman Khan	Bowler
Shaheen Afridi	Batsman
Mohammad Amir	Bower