Pakistan's Yasir Shah, Mohammad Irfan and Sohail Tanvir recalled for T20 series against Sri Lanka
Pakistan’s squad for the series of two Twenty20 matches against Sri Lanka includes leg-spinner Yasir Shah, fast bowler Mohammad Irfan and pacer Sohail Tanvir.
Yasir hasn’t played a T20 tournament since 2011 but was included in the squad due to his recent consistency. He was the highest wicket-taker in the Test series against Sri Lanka, with 24 wickets at an average of 19.33, and took a career-best 4 for 29 in the third ODI.
Irfan has been out injured since the World Cup but was picked for one-dayers against Sri Lanka. Till now he has bowled twenty-seven overs and taken a wicket
Wahab will have to prove fitness: Selector
Zia-ul-Haq, who is uncapped, may too get a chance to play, but he is named in the squad only as a replacement for Wahab Riaz, if he does not recover from his hand fracture in time for the series. Riaz injured his hand in a Test against Sri Lanka a few weeks ago. Ideally, Wahab is expected to start bowling from July 24, but he would have to pass his fitness test to the satisfaction of the coaches of the National Cricket Academy.
"Wahab Riaz is expected to start bowling from July 24, 2015 after recovering from hand injury sustained during the Test series against Sri Lanka, under the supervision of NCA coaches and would be included in the squad upon clearance that he is injury free and bowling to their satisfaction," Haroon Rashid said, according to ESPNcricinfo. "Otherwise Zia-ul-Haq - a budding young fast bowler having toured recently with Pakistan A - would take his place in the team."
Zia-ul-Haq was picked because of his good performance in recent matches. The Pakistan A squad that played against Sri Lanka in May had Zia-ul-Haq as one of the players, and he took six wickets in three List A games as well three in the unofficial Test series.
Pakistan T20 squad: Ahmed Shehzad, Nauman Anwar, Mohammad Hafeez, Mukhtar Ahmed, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Rizwan, Shahid Afridi (capt), Sarfraz Ahmed, Yasir Shah, Sohail Tanvir, Imad Wasim, Anwar Ali, Mohammad Irfan, Wahab Riaz/Zia-ul-Haq