After captaincy Azhar loses place in ODI team

LAHORE: Former ODI captain Azhar Ali could not make it to the team as Pakistan on Wednesday recalled opener Ahmed Shehzad and Kamran Akmal in separate squads for the four-match Twenty20 and three-match one-day series in the West Indies starting later this month.

Fast bowler Muhammad Amir was rested for the Twenty20 series but was included in the ODI squad. However, there was no room in either squad for Azhar Ali, who stepped down as ODI captain after losing a series 4-1 in Australia in January.

Batsmen Ahmad Shahzad and Kamran Akmal made a comeback to the T20 and ODI squads, fresh off the back of their brilliant performances in the recently-concluded Pakistan Super League 2017.

PSL discoveries Fakhar Zaman and Shadab Khan have been picked for both the T20 and ODI squads. Fast bowlers Usman Khan Shinwari and Rumman Raees have also been selected for T20 squad owing to their impressive performances in the PSL.

Hard-hitting batsman Umar Akmal failed to clear the fitness tests, as a result of which he has been left out of the side, chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq informed media.

Fast bowler Mohammad Amir has been rested for the T20s but will be part of the ODI squad, Inzamam said.

Kamran was top scorer of the PSL second edition with 353 runs in 11 innings and was also the top scorer of the National One-Day Cup for his department with 361 runs in 8 innings and in Quaid-e-Azam trophy with 1035 runs in 14 innings.

Ahmed Shahzad, who scored three half-centuries in 10 games of the recently concluded PSL, has also been given a chance to prove his mettle, sources said. The opening batsman was also the top scorer of National One-Day Cup for his department this season with 653 runs in 9 innings.

Last week, the PCB had invited 32 players for the preparatory camp for T20 and ODI series against West Indies.

Pakistan will play four T20Is, three ODIs and three Test matches during the tour of West Indies starting later this month.