Pakistan have left Younis Khan out of their ODI squad for the series against Australia in the UAE.
Younis made an ODI comeback last month, during the Sri Lanka tour, not having played 50-over cricket for Pakistan since March 2013. He scored 3 in his only innings of the series before he had to fly home following the death of his nephew.
The selectors’ decision to drop Younis is a blow to his stated aim of playing in next year’s World Cup. In Younis’ place, Pakistan have brought back the middle-order batsman Umar Amin and Asad Shafiq.
Pakistan have also left out the opener Sharjeel Khan and the fast bowler Mohammad Talha, and recalled the wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed, rewarding him for his form during the Test series against Sri Lanka, in which he made scores of 55, 52*, 103 and 55 in successive innings. Sarfraz last played ODI cricket in August 2013. His return suggests Umar Akmal could play as a specialist batsman.
With the enforced absence of Saeed Ajmal, who has been banned from international cricket for bowling with an illegal action, Pakistan have brought back the left-arm spinner Raza Hasan, and have left out Zulfiqar Babar, who was part of the squad that toured Sri Lanka.
Pakistan have made plenty of changes to their T20 squad from the one that played the World T20 in March, in addition to the appointment of Shahid Afridi as captain. Saad Nasim, the 24-year old middle-order batsman, has earned his first national call-up. Nasim was key to Lahore Lions winning the Faysal Bank T20 Cup and is currently playing the Champions League.
Junaid Khan misses out, with fellow left-arm seamers Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Irfan taking his place. Anwar Ali is in for the injured Umar Gul, while the batsman Awais Zia returns for the first time since February 2012. Sharjeel and Babar have been left out, as have Shoaib Malik and Kamran Akmal, who were surprise inclusions for the World T20.
Pakistan ODI squad:
Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Umar Akmal , Fawad Alam, Umar Amin, Asad Shafiq, Shoaib Maqsood, Sarfraz Ahmed, Shahid Afridi, Raza Hasan, Mohammad Irfan, Anwar Ali, Wahab Riaz, Junaid khan
T20 squad:
Shahid Afridi (capt), Ahmed Shahzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Umar Akmal, Umar Amin, Shoaib Maqsood, Awais Zia, Saad Naseem, Raza Hasan, Mohammad Irfan, Wahab Riaz, Bilwalal Bhatti, Anwar Ali, Sohail Tanvir