Pakistan release pacer Mohammad Wasim Jr. from the Australia T20I series squad

Pakistan have released Mohammad Wasim Jr. from the squad for the remainder of the Australia T20I series, which includes two matches on January 31 and February 1 in Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. The right-arm pacer was the only player from the squad not named in the side’s World Cup-bound team. 

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) made the announcement in a brief statement, without mentioning the reason behind the decision. 

"Fast bowler Mohammad Wasim Jnr has been released from Pakistan’s T20I squad for the remaining two matches of the series against Australia," the PCB stated.

Wasim, Rauf excluded from World Cup squad

Wasim is not the only notable exclusion among fast bowlers. Haris Rauf, who had a stellar BBL season, also did not make it into the World Cup squad, though he was not announced in the 16-member team for the Australia series either. Earlier, Pakistan coach Mike Hesson said that both fast bowlers were not included for the World Cup because of the spin-friendly conditions in Sri Lanka, where Pakistan will play all their tournament games.

"Wasim Jr, Ahmed Daniyal and Haris Rauf were certainly considered, but unfortunately there’s no spot. The three that are going, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah and Salman Mirza, can all bowl in all three phases of the game, which is really important when you’re potentially going to play two in Sri Lanka,” Hesson said.

Updated Pakistan squad for Australia T20Is: 

Agha Salman (c), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wk) and Usman Tariq.

 

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