Asia Cup 2023: On Saturday, Pakistan secured a commanding victory over Afghanistan in Colombo, sealing a convincing 59-run win in the third and decisive ODI of the series. This triumph resulted in a clean sweep for Pakistan, propelling them beyond Australia to claim the coveted top spot in the ICC ODI rankings. However, as they gear up for their last match prior to the upcoming Asia Cup 2023, Pakistan sprung unexpected alterations in their 17-member squad for the upcoming tournament.
New changes in Men in Green’s squad
After revealing their squad earlier in the month before their departure for Sri Lanka to face Afghanistan, Pakistan introduced a single addition to the roster on Saturday. Middle-order batsman Saud Shakeel, initially selected solely for the Afghanistan encounter, has now earned a spot in the squad. His participation was limited to a single match during the series, specifically the final ODI, where he contributed 9 runs off 8 balls. This marked his first appearance in the format since March 2022 and his sixth overall.
In a parallel development, right-handed batsman Tayyab Tahir, who is yet to debut in ODI matches for Pakistan, and was initially included in the original 17-member squad for the Asia Cup, has been repositioned as a travelling reserve. Tahir’s international experience has been limited to three appearances for Pakistan in the T20I format.
After the comprehensive victory on Saturday, the Pakistan team is set to arrive in Multan on Sunday, August 27. The players who had participated in the Lankan Premier League before the ODI series will have a day of rest on the subsequent day and will rejoin the squad at the Multan Cricket Ground.
New Pakistan Squad for Asia Cup 2023
Pakistan squad: Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Haris, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir (travelling reserve).
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