Azhar, Umar Akmal recalled for ICC Champions Trophy

Kamran Akmal was dropped from Pakistan’s One-Day International squad but Umar Akmal, his brother, was drafted back in when a 15-man squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2017, to be held in England and Wales in June, was announced on Tuesday (April 25).

Kamran, 35, was part of the Pakistan team that won a three-match ODI series 2-1 in the West Indies earlier this month, but was below his best with scores of 47, 21 and 0. In his place came Umar, who had been dropped for that tour following a failed fitness test.

The four-member selection committee, headed by Inzamam-ul-Haq, also brought in Azhar Ali, the former captain of the side, after leaving him out of the sides that played the limited-overs games in the Caribbean, in place of Asif Zakir, the uncapped opening batsman.

Inzamam said the squad had been selected keeping in mind English conditions: “Ali is making a comeback in the team after looking at his good track record in English conditions, while Umar also returns after considerable improvement in his fitness.”

That meant there was also no space for Mohammad Asghar, the uncapped left-arm spinner who also travelled to the Caribbean. Imad Wasim, the left-arm spinner, and Shadab Khan, the leg-spinner, are the main spin options in the team, with Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik also around to turn the ball.

Sarfraz Ahmed, who took charge of the ODI side in the West Indies, will lead the squad that also includes uncapped players Fahim Ashraf, the right-arm pacer, and Fakhar Zaman, the top-order batsman. Although Ashraf was part of the ODI squad against West Indies, he didn't make the final XI, while Zaman played three of the four Twenty20 Internationals on that tour.

Apart from Ashraf, the pacemen in the 15 are Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, Junaid Khan and Hasan Ali.

Pakistan will play India, the defending champion, in its first Group B match in Birmingham on June 4 followed by games against South Africa (June 7 in Birmingham) and Sri Lanka (June 12 in Cardiff). Prior to the tournament proper, it has warm-up fixtures lined up against Australia and Bangladesh.

Squad: Sarfraz Ahmed (capt, wk), Azhar Ali, Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Fakhar Zaman, Imad Wasim, Hasan Ali, Fahim Ashraf, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, Junaid Khan, Shadab Khan.