- Saud Shakeel, a middle-order batter, has been added to Pakistan’s Asia Cup 2023 squad as the 18th member
- Tayyab Tahir, who was in the original squad, has been named the travelling reserve player for the Asia Cup
- Pakistan’s Asia Cup campaign starts on August 30 with a match against Nepal in Multan.
In a recent development, Pakistan’s Asia Cup 2023 squad has undergone a modification. Saud Shakeel, a middle-order batter, has been included in the squad, while Tayyab Tahir has been designated as the travelling reserve.
Saud Shakeel’s inclusion comes as a surprise, as he was not initially part of the original 17-member squad. He was named as the 18th member specifically for the ODI squad during the bilateral series against Afghanistan
On the other hand, Tayyab Tahir was initially part of the squad but did not get an opportunity to play in any of the three ODI matches against Afghanistan. However, Tahir’s role as the reserve player will see him accompanying the team during the Asia Cup.
Saud Shakeel, who made a comeback to the ODI squad for the Afghanistan series, had the chance to play in a single game, during which he scored a total of nine runs.
The Asia Cup is set to kick off with Pakistan’s match against Nepal on August 30 in Multan. The team’s arrival in Multan is scheduled for August 27. Notably, Babar Azam, Imam ul Haq, and Naseem Shah are expected to join the group on the evening of Monday.
The Pakistan squad for the Asia Cup comprises a diverse set of players:
- Babar Azam (captain)
- 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)
This alteration in the squad aims to bolster Pakistan’s performance in the Asia Cup, and all eyes will be on the team’s performance as they strive to make their mark in the tournament.