• Source:JND
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Shan Masood has been dropped from Pakistan's 18-member squad for the upcoming Afghanistan ODI series and Asia Cup 2023, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Wednesday. The new head of the national men’s selection committee Inzamam-ul-Haq has picked his first squad after getting the second term.

Faheem Ashraf has earned a recall for both the Afghanistan series and the continental cup. Faheem returns to the side after two years and further adds to the balance of the side as a fast bowling all-rounder. His last outing in the format was during Pakistan’s three-match away series against England in July 2021.

Tayyab Tahir earned his second ODI call-up. His maiden call-up came ahead of the three ODIs against New Zealand in January following a stellar show in the Pakistan Cup 2022-23 that saw him finish as the leading run-getter in the event. The right-handed middle-order batter recently struck a scintillating century to orchestrate Pakistan Shaheens’ thumping 128-run win over India A in the ACC Men’s Emerging Cup final.

Haris Sohail and Ihsanullah are the only absentees from the group that took on New Zealand in May. Saud Shakeel has only been picked for the ODIs against Afghanistan in Sri Lanka due to limited exposure to ODIs.

"Preference has been given to Faheem Ashraf, since the squad doesn't have another allrounder. If you look at PSL and other tournaments, we need an allrounder, he is a fast-bowling allrounder, which we need at the World Cup," Inzamam said at a press conference after announcing the squad.

"Shan has performed very well. Unfortunately, his performances have gone down. We have a list of 20-21 players, and Shan is part of that. But Saud Shakeel and a couple of other players were impressive recently, so we have to leave out Shan. But he is a part of our plans," he added on Shan Masood.

The team will assemble in Hambantota on August 18 with the players in Pakistan departing on August 17. The players in Pakistan will hold a three-day camp on August 14, 15 and 16 at the National Cricket Academy, Lahore.

Players participating in Lankan Premier League and The Hundred will join the squad directly in Sri Lanka on August 18.

Pakistan ODI squad for Afghanistan series and Asia Cup 2023: Babar Azam (capt), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Saud Shakeel, Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Tayyab Tahir, Mohammad Haris, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Wasim.