Malik, Sami named in Pakistan's T20 squad

Lahore, May 19 (IANS) Veteran all-rounder Shoaib Malik and experienced fast bowler Mohammad Sami were on Tuesday recalled to the Pakistan team for the two Twenty20 internationals against Zimbabwe.

Opener Nauman Anwar, 19, and former Under-19 captain Imad Wasim were also included in the team that will face an international side for the first time in six years at home.

Saad Nasim, Imran Khan and Haris Sohail were dropped from the squad that played against Bangladesh in Mirpur last month. Anwar Ali, Bilawal Bhatti and Hammad Azam were also called-up to the squad.

Controversial spinner Saeed Ajmal, who returned to action after rectifying his suspect bowling action, was dropped along with pacer Sohail Tanvir.

Both Sohaib Maqsood and Sohail Khan were sidelined over fitness issues. Left-arm pacer Junaid Khan was also excluded from the team apparently for fitness issues.

Pakistan will be playing two Twenty20 matches on May 22 and 24, followed by three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) here.

Zimbabwe are the first Test-playing nation to tour Pakistan since 2009 when Sri Lanka abandoned their tour midway after their team bus was attacked by terrorists.

Pakistan have since played their home matches in either Abu Dhabi or Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after other countries refused to visit Pakistan due to security concerns.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has opted against sending its officials for the tour, acting on a warning by a security consultant.

But the governing body has allowed the PCB to appoint home-grown officials for the series, clarifying that it would not affect the official status of the matches.
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The Zimbabwean team arrived here on Tuesday amidst tight security. It was escorted from the Allama Iqbal International Airport to its hotel with the entire stretch being cordoned off by police.

The squad: Shahid Afridi (captain), Sarfaraz Ahmed (vice captain and wicketkeeper), Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Mukhtar Ahmed, Noman Anwar, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Mohammad Rizwan, Anwar Ali, Hammad Azam, Immad Wasim, Bilawal Bhatti, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Sami.