Team announced for England, WI tours likely to be team of T20 World Cup: Waseem

Muhammad Waseem said this during a press conference held here on Friday to announce the national T20, ODI and Test teams for England and West Indies tours.

"We can make one or two changes in the T20 squad as we couldn't make a bulk of changes. We have planned to go with the same mindset and combination in the ICC T20 World Cup," the chief selector said.

Muhammad Waseem said that there is no doubt that fitness is the main part of the strategy but there is also a dire need to meet the team's requirements.

"Wicketkeeper-batsman Azam Khan's fitness has been improving gradually as he is working very hard on his fitness and hopefully, he will continue to keep him fit even after being selected in the squad,” he said adding,

"We had talked to all-rounder Shoaib Malik and fast bowler Wahab Riaz earlier and they will be contacted again. We can never end someone's career, who is fit and still serve the team and country in a befitting manner. Earlier we had better options that's why they couldn't make their way to the national side but for the T20 World Cup, the services for this experienced duo can be hired, which will ultimately benefit the national team and youngsters during the mega T20 event.”

The top PCB official said that opener Ahmed Shahzad played a few matches of domestic cricket but his performance was not up to the mark adding that was the reason he was also invited to the High-Performance Camp.

“If he performs well in the coming domestic season, he will definitely, be called in the camp, and also make his way to the national side but it all depends upon how much hard work he does and how well he performs in the domestic cricket," Waseem concluded.

Report by: Anus Saeed