Malik, Sami make a comeback into the Pakistan ODI squad after two years

Malik, Sami make a comeback into the Pakistan ODI squad after two years: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a 16-man squad for the three match ODI series against the touring Zimbabwe side. The three match ODI series will be held on 26, 29 and 31st May at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

All-rounder Shoaib Malik and fast bowler Mohammad Sami have been recalled to the ODI squad for the first time in over two years. Malik and Sami who were a part of Pakistan T20 side which completed a 2-0 whitewash to Zimbabwe on Sunday, had a decent comeback earlier with the pacer’s four wickets were the best bowling haul in the series.

The selectors have done some considerable changes to the squad that lost to Bangladesh earlier this month.  With youngsters Baber Azam, Hammad Azam and Immad Wasim who made his Pakistan debut in second T20 are given an opportunity for the ODI series. Ahmed Shahzad and Asad Shafiq have both retained their places in the Azhar Ali led-side.

Mukhtar Ahmed who struck back-to-back fifties in the T20s was also not picked for ODIs. Umar Akmal who was over-looked following the World Cup due to disciplinary issues didn’t find himself a place either.

Saeed Ajmal, Zulfiqar Babar, Umar Gul, Saad Nasim and middle-order bat Fawad Alam were all dropped from the squad that toured Bangladesh.

Pakistan, who welcomed cricket back to it shores with a 2-0 whitewash against Zimbabwe in the two match T20 series, would look to continue the same momentum in the three match ODI series.

Pakistan ODI squad:

Azhar Ali (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Asad Shafiq, Harris Sohail, Shoaib Malik, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Anwar Ali, Hammad Azam, Imad Wasim, Yasir Shah, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Sami, Junaid Khan