LAHORE – Pakistan on Saturday left out veteran batsman Mohammad Hafeez fornext week’s series start against Sri Lanka, who are touring the country forthe first time since they were targeted in a terror attack.
Hafeez, 38, was part of Pakistan’s fifth-placed World Cup squad but hasbeen kept off due to his commitments in the Caribbean Premier League, saidhead coach and chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq.
“He is not out of our plans,” added Misbah. “Whoever is effective for theteam will be included in the future.”
Fellow World Cup team members Hasan Ali and fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridihave also been left out due to poor fitness.
Sarfaraz Ahmed will lead the team in both the one-day and T20 matches.
Middle order batsman Iftikhar Ahmed was recalled to the one-day squad aftera four year absence.
Cricket tours were suspended in Pakistan for six years after a 2009 assaulton the Sri Lankan team bus that killed half a dozen police officers andwounded six members of the visiting team.
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Sri Lanka agreed to the current tour after a favourable security assessment.
Three one-day internationals will be played in Karachi, the first onSeptember 27.
Another three Twenty20 matches will be played in Lahore in early October.
*Squad*: Sarfaraz Ahmed, Babar Azam, Abid Ali, Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman,Imam-ul-Haq, Haris Sohail, Mohammad Hasnain, Iftikhar Ali, Imad Wasim,Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, UsmanShinwari, Wahab Riaz – APP/AFP
