PCB delays announcing Asia Cup, World T20 squads

Karachi: The national selectors have delayed announcement of the national squad for the Asia T20 and World T20 after some sterling performances in the ongoing Pakistan Super League in Dubai.

A source told PTI that chief selector Haroon Rasheed had sent a 15-member squad to the chairman of the cricket board for final approval but then asked for some more time to revise the squad.

"Haroon has held consultations with head coach Waqar Younis and captain Shahid Afridi over the selection of the squad and apparently the biggest issues are the selection of Ahmed Shehzad, Khurrum Manzoor, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Irfan, Rumman Raees and uncapped left arm spinners, Mohammad Nawaz and Mohammad Ashgar," a source said.

Shehzad, who was certain to be axed from the T20 squad before the PSL began last Thursday, has hit form in the franchise based tournament for Quetta gladiators and has left captain Afridi asking the selectors to reconsider him.

A source said the selectors had already decided to replace Shehzad with Khurrum Manzoor who has been scoring prolifically in T20 and ODI matches.

"But now the selectors are pondering whether to pick both of them," the source said.

He said middle order batsman wicketkeeper batsman Mohammad Rizwan was also going to face the axe as the selectors are contemplating bringing back the seasoned Kamran Akmal.