Cricket is set to return to Pakistan as a World XI team will play 3 T20Is against a Pakistan team in the month of September. The series will be named as Independence Cup. South Africa’s Faf du Plessis will lead the World XI side while Sarfaraz Ahmed will captain the home side. The 3 matches will be played on September 12, 13 and 15 at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
Along with du Plessis, his countrymen Hashim Amla, David Miller, Morne Morkel and Imran Tahir will also feature in the squad. George Bailey, Tamim Iqbal and Darren Sammy are the other notable names whereas former England captain Paul Collingwood would also make an appearance in the lineup.
For Pakistan, a few surprise names have emerged. Some inexperienced players like Fahim Ashraf, Aamer Yasmin, Usman Shinwari and Ruman Raees have been picked while Sohail Khan has been called back who last made an appearance for Pakistan way back in 2011 against Zimbabwe.
Inzamam-ul-Haq, the chief selector said about the selections, “The team has been selected keeping in mind the conditions and the recent performances of some players in the domestic and international tours. The players’ consists of a combination of the fine blend of youth and senior players. It would be good for the young players to get a chance to play on the home ground and perform in front of the local public,”
Pakistan squad
Sarfraz Ahmed (Captain/WK), Fakhar Zaman, Ahmed Shehzad, Baber Azam, Shoaib Malik, Umer Amin, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Muhammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Hassan Ali, Amir Yamin, Muhammad Amir, Ruman Raees, Usman Shinwari, Sohail Khan
World XI squad
Faf du Plessis (South Africa) (C), Hashim Amla (South Africa), Samuel Badree (West Indies), George Bailey (Australia), Paul Collingwood (England), Ben Cutting (Australia), Grant Elliot (New Zealand), Tamim Iqbal (Bangladesh), David Miller (South Africa), Morne Morkel (South Africa), Tim Paine (wk) (Australia), Thisara Perera (Sri Lanka), Imran Tahir (South Africa), Darren Sammy (West Indies).
