The Pakistan Super League (PSL) came to an exciting conclusion on Monday, as Islamabad United beat Multan Sultans by 2 wickets in a last-ball thriller. With the league now done and dusted, attention will turn to Pakistan's preparations for the upcoming T20 World Cup in June.
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Between now and June 1, the national side will play two 5-match series against New Zealand and England. These fixtures could prove vital in terms of finalising the squad prior to the tournament, which Pakistan are looking to win for the first time since 2009.
The teams are required to submit their 15-player squad lists roughly a month prior to the tournament, which starts in June. Who will be in and out for India?
Pakistan squad for 2024 T20 World Cup: Who will make the cut, who is out and who are on the fringes?
Pakistan's last campaign was a topsy-turvy one as they lost to India and Zimbabwe in their first two matches, before winning three on the bounce to make it to the semi-final. They managed to beat New Zealand, but fell to England in the summit clash.
They have played just 16 T20Is since that match, but the ten to come in the next couple of months will really seal the deal for a few players. As of now, the spots which are more or less confirmed will be that of Shaheen Shah Afridi, as the captain along with star batters Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan. Naseem Shah will also be a certainty if he is fit. Beyond these four, very few can be considered certainties but Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan and Zaman Khan are likely to be included.
An interesting possibility has emerged in the last few days, as all-rounder Imad Wasim could be handed a surprising recall. He retired from international cricket in November, but a stellar PSL season has led to many calling for him to reverse the decision. He has stated that he is open to a recall, saying during the PSL that "Shaheen called me after I retired but I told him that we will talk after PSL."
Now, on Saturday, Wasim reversed his international retirement and is eyeing a place in the Pakistan squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup. "I am happy to announce that pursuant to meeting PCB officials, I have reconsidered my retirement and am delighted to declare my availability for Pakistan cricket in the T20I format leading up to ICC T20 World Cup 2024," read Imad's post on X.
"I would like to thank the PCB for reposing trust in me and I would give my very best to bring laurels to my country. Pakistan comes first!"
Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi also wanted Mohammad Amir to come out of international retirement to play the T20 World Cup, and his wish has been fulfilled, with Amir reversing his retirement decision on Sunday, March 24.
"I still dream to play for Pakistan," read Amir's post on X on Sunday, "There has been few positive discussions between myself and the PCB where they respectfully made me feel that I was needed and can still play for Pakistan."
I still dream to play for Pakistan!
— Mohammad Amir (@iamamirofficial) March 24, 2024
life brings us to the points where at times we have to reconsider our decisions, There has been few positive discussions between myself and the PCB where they respectfully made me feel that I was needed and can still play for Pakistan after…
Amir was in terrific form in the recently-concluded season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Given his experience in international cricket, and the form that he has been in while playing franchise cricket, we can conclude that he'll be among the certainties for the Pakistan squad, leading the attack alongside Shaheen Afridi.
Pakistan's upcoming future will be particularly important for Saim Ayub, Azam Khan and Mohammed Haris as a couple of good knocks could help catapult them from fringe players to starters. Fast bowler Haris Rauf had his central contract terminated just before the PSL, so it remains to be seen whether the PCB is willing to pick him for this tournament.
On March 25, ESPNCricinfo reported that UAE-born Pakistan-origin cricketer Usman Khan has been called up to their upcoming training that will be conducted between March 26 to April 8.
Khan, as of now, is still registered as a UAE cricketer and is it uncertain whether PCB would try and lure him to join the Pakistani national team.
According to the latest rumours, Babar Azam could be reinstated as the skipper of the national team. An official announcement is expected later this week.
| Certainties | Probables | Contenders | Unlikely |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | Iftikhar Ahmed | Haris Rauf | Arafat Minhas |
| Babar Azam | Shadab Khan | Abdullah Shafique | Khushdil Shah |
| Mohammad Rizwan | Zaman Khan | Usama Mir | Faheem Ashraf |
| Naseem Shah | Fakhar Zaman | Saim Ayub | Asif Ali |
| Mohammad Amir | Imad Wasim | Azam Khan | |
| Mohammed Haris | |||
| Aamer Jamal | |||
| Abbas Afridi | |||
| Abdullah Shafique | |||
| Usman Khan |
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