Azhar Ali
Azhar Ali

Azhar Ali returns to Pakistan ODI squad


Azhar Ali has been restored to Pakistan's one-day side after being included in their 15-man squad for the forthcoming Champions Trophy.

The 32-year-old resigned the ODI captaincy in the wake of Pakistan's 4-1 humbling in Australia, while there was no place for him in the squad for the recently-concluded series in the West Indies.

But he has been recalled, along with another top-order batsman in Umar Akmal, for Pakistan, who will be captained by Sarfraz Ahmed.

According to a statement, Umar has been included after "bringing considerable improvement in his fitness" and impressing in the ongoing domestic Pakistan Cup.

But there is no place for Umar's brother Kamran, whose scores of 47, 21 and nought against the Windies - his first ODIs in nearly four years - were not enough to retain a squad place.

Another high-profile omission is leg-spinner Yasir Shah, who has been overlooked in favour of 18-year-old Shadab Khan, while batsman Fakhar Zaman and all-rounder Fahim Ashraf have been included despite being uncapped at ODI level.

Pakistan begin their Group B campaign against defending champions India on June 4 at Edgbaston, where they will play their next match against South Africa three days later before taking on Sri Lanka in Cardiff on June 12.

Pakistan squad: S Ahmad (captain, wk), A Ali, A Shahzad, F Zaman, B Azam, M Hafeez, S Malik, U Akmal, S Khan, I Wasim, M Amir, W Riaz, H Ali, J Khan, F Ashraf.

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