Peshawar Panthers’ Rifatullah Mohmand, aged 39, finally earned a call in the Pakistan T20 squad for the three-match series against England in the UAE.
The right-hand batsman has played 168 first-class matches and has scored 7501 runs at an average of 29.41 with 12 centuries to his name.
“Having experience of playing first class cricket for many years, with his form, sound technique and fitness, and also given his fielding credentials, Riffat Ullah Mohmand has been afforded an opportunity as he was considered to have potential to feature in an international T20 competition as an opener,” said chief selector Haroon Rasheed.
Another new entry in the team will be seen in the form of another Panthers’ batsman Iftikhar Ahmed.
“Iftikhar has filled in the spot vacated by Younus Khan in ODIs; it was considered that he also be tried in the T20 format on the back of his performance on the domestic T20 circuit,” explained Haroon.
Meanwhile, middle-order batsman Umar Akmal and opener Mukhtar Ahmed were not selected in the squad.
Umar was sent a notice by the PCB for being caught in a night-party in Hyderabad. The police released him after recognising him but the board sent him a show-cause for causing disrepute.
“Umar Akmal had been penciled in for selection, but he has subsequently been dropped on instructions from the Board, as he has been issued with a show cause notice for bringing PCB and Pakistan Cricket into disrepute,” said Haroon.
All-rounder Imad Wasim, who was out of the ODI squad due to a hand injury, will make it into the team owing to his recovery. If he does not recover in time, then off-spinner Bilal Asif will take his place.
The team will be led by Shahid Afridi and Sarfraz Ahmed will be the vice-captain.
Pakistan Squad
Shahid Afridi (captain), Sarfraz Ahmed (vice-captain), Shahid Afridi, Rifatullah Mohmand, Iftikhar Ahmed, Wahab Riaz, Muhammad Irfan, Sohail Tanvir, Anwar Ali, Imran Khan Jr., Aamer Yamin, Yasir Shah, Ahmed Shehzad, Muhammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Muhammad Rizwan and Imad Wasim/ Bilal Asif.
