Pakistan have named fast bowler Mohammad Amir and all-rounder Imad Wasim in their 17-player Twenty20 squad for their home series against New Zealand, after the duo announced last month that they were coming out of international retirement ahead of the T20 World Cup.
Amir, who was jailed in 2011 for his part in a spot-fixing scandal, served three months in prison and a five-year ban from all forms of cricket before returning to the Pakistan squad in January 2016.
Part of the team that won the 2009 T20 World Cup and 2017 Champions Trophy, he last played international cricket against England in August 2020. The 31-year-old has continued to play in franchise T20 leagues.
Wasim, 35, last played for Pakistan a year ago. He has helped Islamabad United to the recent PSL T20 title.
Pakistan will kick off their T20 World Cup campaign against co-hosts United States on June 6.
“Amir and Imad possess undeniable match-winning capabilities, and we trust they will consistently deliver strong performances to bolster the team’s objectives,” Pakistan’s selection committee member Wahab Riaz said.
Pakistan have also called up batter Usman Khan, who recently reverted his allegiance back from the United Arab Emirates and was subsequently banned from participation in all UAE cricket for five years.
Pakistan will host the Blackcaps in Rawalpindi on April 18. The series will conclude on April 27 in Lahore.
PAKISTAN SQUAD FOR NEW ZEALAND T20S:
Babar Azam (capt), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohmmad Amir, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usama Mir, Usman Khan, Zaman Khan.
Source Agencies
