Babar Azam will lead Pakistan into the ICC men’s T20 World Cup 2022 starting later this week in Australia. After disappointingly losing the 2021 T20 World Cup semifinal to eventual champions in Dubai last year, Pakistan will look to go one-step better replicate their 2009 title-winning success.
Pakistan will open their campaign against arch-rivals India in one of the biggest clashes of the upcoming T20 World Cup, set to take place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on October 23. Pakistan will have the services of their pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi for the two warm-up games against England and Afghanistan ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup in Australia, after he missed the Asia Cup in the UAE, the seven-match T20I series against England and the Tri-series currently underway in New Zealand due to a right-knee ligament injury.
__ @iShaheenAfridi cannot wait to rejoin the national side for the ICC @T20WorldCup
More details: https://t.co/AyImXkc0Ub pic.twitter.com/dXTRUsBc6m
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) October 11, 2022
The young pace bowler, who wrecked India in Pakistan`s 10-wicket win against the arch-rivals in the 2021 T20 World Cup in the UAE, will join the Babar Azam-led squad in Australia after undergoing a rehabilitation programme under the supervision of the PCB Medical Advisory Committee.
The two warm-up games are scheduled on October 17 and 19 respectively, following which the team will play India in the blockbuster Super 12 match on October 23 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. “I am super excited at the prospect of re-joining the national side for the T20 World Cup and playing my part in the campaign,” Shaheen was quoted as saying by ICC. “It has been a difficult period for me to be away from the game and the team I love the most, and not be part of some gruelling and exciting matches.
“I have been bowling six to eight overs trouble-free for the past 10 days with full run-up and pace. While I have enjoyed bowling and batting in the nets, nothing can replace the feel of match environment and I can`t wait to be in that setting,” added Afridi.
Pakistan full squad for ICC men’s T20 World Cup 2022
Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan (vc), Asif Ali, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Usman Qadir
Reserves: Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Haris, Shahnawaz Dahani
Pakistan full schedule for ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022
October 23 (Sunday) – India vs Pakistan – 1.30 PM
October 27 (Thursday) – Pakistan vs B1 – 4.30 PM
October 30 (Sunday) – Pakistan vs A2 – 12.30 PM
November 3 (Thursday) – Pakistan vs South Africa – 1.30 PM
November 6 (Sunday) – Pakistan vs Bangladesh – 9.30 AM
