T20 World Cup 2021: PCB to name Pakistan’s squad on September 6

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is expected to name the team’s T20 World Cup 2021 squad on September 6 in consultation with the coaching staff and skipper Babar Azam. The tournament is set to be played in UAE and Oman between October 17 and November 14.

The squad is expected to feature players who have been recently a part of Pakistan’s limited-overs squad for series against England, West Indies and the upcoming series against New Zealand.

Ramiz Raja, who is set to assume PCB’s chairmanship on September 13, is understood to have given his input on the squad, while the Board’s acting Chairman Wasim Khan will approve the squad, as reported by Cricket Pakistan on September 4.

The PCB is expected to name a 15-member squad with six to seven players as reserves. Meanwhile, Pakistan are set to play New Zealand for three ODIs and five T20Is this month, having drawn a five-match away T20I series against West Indies 1-1, with three fixtures were washed out, while they also drew the following two-Test series 1-1.

Kamran Akmal picks Pakistan’s T20 World Cup squad

Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Kamran Akmal recently named his predicted squad on his YouTube channel, where he also highlighted how Pakistan has an advantage owing to the World Cup being played in the UAE.

“Spinners will dominate in the UAE, so Shadab Khan would be a key player. He needs to be in form for Pakistan. Faheem Ashraf has also performed in the recent past and I think he would be given a chance. Imad Wasim is another good player, who has done well in the shorter format,” he said.

“Pakistan’s middle-order is poor and Shoaib Malik needs to be in there. Azam Khan needs to be given a longer run. Others have been given many chances and he should get those too. So, no decision should be made in a rush about him.”

“Babar Azam has been carrying the batting lineup of Pakistan for quite some time now. He is a world-class player. He should be at No.3, while Mohammad Hafeez is another experienced player, he can finish the game and does the job with the ball too.”