Follow UsPakistan have made a minor tweak to their Asia Cup 2023 squad. Saud Shakeel gets into the 17-member squad, while Tayyab Tahir, who is yet to make his One-Day International (ODI) debut, has been put in the travelling reserves. On the other hand, Shakeel has played just six ODIs, scoring 76 runs at 19. He played just one ODI in the recent series against Afghanistan, his first in the format since Match 2022.
Tahir finished as Pakistan's leading run-getter in the ACC Emerging Men's Asia Cup 2023 with 190 runs at 47.50, which included a fifty and a ton in four innings.
Pakistan go into the Asia Cup 2023 as the No.1 ranked side after completing a 3-0 whitewash over Afghanistan. Pakistan will reach Multan on August 27 ahead of their opening game in the Asia Cup against Nepal on August 30. However, those who were part of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) will get an extra day off.
"The team management has provided relaxation to the players who participated in the Lankan Premier League. Babar, Imam-ul-Haq and Naseem Shah will travel to Lahore on Sunday and join the side on Monday evening," the press release from PCB stated.
"The players will train on Tuesday, August 29, at the Multan Cricket Stadium from 1630 till 1930. Before the start of the session, the Pakistan captain will hold a pre-series media conference."
After completing their first game against Nepal, Pakistan will travel to Pallekele to take on arch-rivals India on September 2.
Pakistan squad for Asia Cup 2023: Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Haris, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir (travelling reserve).