Pakistan has a great opportunity to test the cricketers going to the T20 World Cup. Pakistan is trying to make good use of that opportunity. Pakistan’s selection committee announced the 18-man squad for the matches against Ireland and England to bring out the best squad for the World Cup.

Pakistan Super League (PSL) injured pacer Haris Rauf has returned to the team. Two wicket-keeper batsmen, Azam Khan and Mohammad Rizwan, who were injured before the start of the New Zealand series and during the series, are also in the squad.

Besides, pacer Hasan Ali, who played the last international T20 game in 2022, has also been brought back to the team to watch the performance. Agha Salman is in the squad with him.

Selector Wahab Riaz announced the squad in a press conference today.

Returning to the team of cricketers, he said, ‘Rizwan, Haris, Irfan and Azam have been tested. Their fitness has improved considerably. They are placed in the squad. It is expected that they will be fully fit before the start of the Ireland series.

The 3-match T20 series against Iceland will begin on May 10. The remaining two matches will be on May 12 and 14. All matches will be played in Dublin. Babar Azam’s team will play a series against England, the current champion of T20 World Cup after this series.

The 4-match T20 series against the English will begin on May 22. Pakistan will have to announce the World Cup squad in the middle of the series. Because, the ICC has set a deadline of 25 May for the teams to announce the squad. Pakistan’s remaining matches against Jos Buttler’s team will be on May 25, 28 and 30.

Pakistan squad for T20 against Ireland and England

Babar Azam (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan.