Afridi in, Malik out of PCB's squad for T20 World Cup - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a 15-man squad sans the name of the skipper for the forthcoming ICC T20 World Championship in the Caribbean. The squad also includes all-rounder Shahid Afridi and Akmal brothers (Kamran and Umar), who were slapped hefty fines by the PCB for violating the player's code of conduct during the winless tour of Australia. Announcing the team at the National Stadium here, chief selector Mohsin Khan expressed the hope that the squad would be able to defend the title. "Name of the captain will be announced later by the PCB.This is the best possible team and if they play to their potential I am sure they can defend the title," The Daily Times quoted Khan, as saying. He also backed the board's decision to ban and impose hefty fines on some of the senior players of the team, describing it as a necessary step. "The problems of indiscipline and infighting were affecting the team like cancer and I back all the decisions, not as chief selector, not as a former player but as a Pakistani," Khan said. While former captain Shoaib Malik and fast bowler Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, both of whom were also fined by the PCB, have been axed from the squad, veteran batsman Misbah-ul- Haq and opener Salman Butt have staged a come back in the team. Under-19 all-rounder Hammad Azam has aloe been rewarded with a place in the senior team for his brilliant show in the Uder-19 World Cup in New Zealand earlier this year. Another opener Mohammad Hafeez has also secured a place in the squad for the tournament, which will be played in West Indies from April 30 to May 16. Squad: Salman Butt, Mohammad Hafeez, Khalid Latif, Kamran Akmal (wicketkeeper), Misbahul Haq, Umar Akmal, Shahid Khan Afridi, Fawad Alam, Abdul Razzaq, Yasir Arafat, Hammad Azam, Mohammad Aamir, Mohammad Asif, Umar Gul and Saeed Ajmal. Reserve players: Shahzaib Hasan, Hasan Raza, Naved Yasin, Mohammad Sami and Sarfraz Ahmed.