Mohammad Amir makes sensational return as Pakistan unveil squad for New Zealand series
Xtra Time Web Desk: Pakistan left-arm fast bowler Mohammad Amir made a notable comeback to Pakistan's national cricket squad after an absence of nearly four years, as announced by the PCB’s selection committee. He was named in the 17-member squad for the upcoming T20 home series against New Zealand.
Amir's last T20 international appearance was against England in August 2020 before he withdrew from international cricket citing mental stress. However, he recently declared his availability for the forthcoming T20 World Cup after positive discussions with PCB officials.
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Joining Amir in the comeback trail is all-rounder Imad Wasim, who also expressed his desire to return to international cricket last month and has been included in the squad for the New Zealand series. The selection committee emphasized that the inclusion of Amir and Wasim was straightforward, considering their availability and the circumstances surrounding Haris Rauf's injury and Mohammad Nawaz's form.
Wahab Riaz, a member of the selection committee, stated, "Both Amir and Imad possess undeniable match-winning capabilities, and we trust they will consistently deliver strong performances to bolster the team’s objectives."
Amir boasts a record of 50 T20Is with 59 wickets at an economy rate of 7.02, while Wasim has played 66 T20Is, scoring 486 runs at a strike rate of 131.7 and taking 65 wickets at an economy rate of 6.26. Wasim's last appearance for Pakistan was 12 months ago against New Zealand in Rawalpindi. Pacer Haris Rauf, however, has been omitted from the squad as he continues to recover from a shoulder injury that curtailed his participation in PSL 9.
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Squad:
Babar Azam (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohmmad Amir, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usama Mir, Usman Khan and Zaman Khan.
Reserves:
Haseebullah, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Sahibzada Farhan, and Salman Ali Agha
