Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has finalised national men's squad for the upcoming Asian Games to be held in Hangzhou, China from September 23 to October 8.
According to the sources, young Qasim Akram will lead the squad in the Asian event. Players from Pakistan's main team will also be a part of this squad.
Sources told Geo News that Aamer Jamal, Asif Ali, Arshad Iqbal, Arafat Minhas, Usman Qadir, Haider Ali, Khushdil Shah, Mirza Tahir Baig, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Akhlaq, Omair Bin Yousuf, Rohail Nazir, Shahnawaz Dahani and Sufiyan Muqeem will be part of the squad.
The finalised list has been sent to Pakistan Olympic Association (POA). The cricket event in the Asian Games will be played in T20 format.
Earlier today, PCB announced women's squad for the Asian Games. Left-arm spinner Anoosha Nasir and right-handed batter Shawaal Zulfiqar have received maiden call-ups after good performances in the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup and Emerging Women’s Teams Asia Cup.
Diana Baig has also been included in the 15-player squad after recovering from a finger injury.
Former captain Bismah Maroof won’t feature in the Asian Games because of the event’s rules and regulations that do not permit athletes to carry their children.
Pakistan women’s team will be looking to complete a hat-trick of gold medals in the Asian Games after clinching the top prize in the last two editions, held in Guangzhou, China in 2010 and Incheon, South Korea 2014.
Squad
Nida Dar (captain), Aliya Riaz, Anoosha Nasir, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Muneeba Ali, Najiha Alvi, Nashra Sundhu, Nataliya Parvaiz, Omaima Sohail, Sadaf Shamas, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Sidra Amin, Syeda Aroob Shah and Umm-e-Hani
Player Support staff: Ayesha Ashhar (team manager), Mark Coles (head coach), Saleem Jaffer (bowling coach), Mauhtashim Rashid (fielding coach) and Rifat Gill (physiotherapist).
Faizan Lakhani Faizan Lakhani is Deputy Editor (Sports) at Geo News.