Pakistan bowler Umar Gul earns recall after long injury lay-off

Sport360 staff 12:22 01/12/2014
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  • Flying in: Quick bolwer Umar Gul has been brought back to the Pakistan cricket team after injury.

    Wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed and premier batsman Younis Khan have earned recalls to T20 and ODI squads respectively to take on New Zealand after dominating performances against the Kiwis and Australia.

    – UAE's Khurram Khan becomes oldest ODI centurion

    In addition, pacers Umar Gul and Wahab Riaz have also cameback impressing with form and fitness in domestic cricket after injury lay-offs.

    The national selection committee led by Moin Khan has announced 14-member squad for two T20Is while a 16-member team has been announced for first two One-Day Internationals (ODIs) against New Zealand.

    Both teams will lock horns on December 4 and 5 in the T20Is while first of the two 50-over contests are slated for December 8 and 12.

    “In the ODI squad, Younis has been recalled for the ODI squad due to his sparkling form. Similarly, Sarfraz Ahmed is featuring in a T20Is,” Moin Khan said, adding that Sohaib Maqsood was not considered due to fitness issues.

    “Among our pace bowlers, Wahab Riaz and Umar Gul are making comebacks from injury to make the pace attack more potent.” 

    Sarfraz last played a T20 against Zimbabwe last year and since then has been out of the side but he gradually made his case stronger first by doing well in both ODI and Test format.

    The 27-year-old have notched up three Test tons in this calendar year becoming the only Pakistani wicketkeeper to achieve the feat while he also scored an 80-ball century — the second fastest ton by wicketkeeper in history.

    On the other hand, Younis has forced the selectors to include him with his impressive performance in last five Tests scoring 717 centuries with four centuries. 

    Younis had earlier blasted the selectors for dropping him in ODIs against Australia and have told them not to select him in Tests as well against Australia.

    Moin further added that it is the final opportunity both for selectors and players ahead of 2015 World  Cup before the finalization of 15-member squad.

     “This is our final opportunity to test all our potential players before the ICC World Cup 2015. That is why we have tried to induct all our fit players in contention for a slot,” Moin elaborated.

    “It’ also pretty much the last opportunity for the players to perform and cement their places in the World Cup squad.” 

    The 14-member T20I squad:
    1. Ahmed Shehzad
    2. Anwar Ali
    3. Mohammad Hafeez
    4. Haris Sohail
    5. Mohammad Irfan
    6. Owais Zia
    7. Raza Hasan
    8. Saad Nasim
    9. Sarfraz Ahmad (wicket-keeper)
    10. Shahid Afridi (Captain)
    11. Sohail Tanvir.
    12. Umar Akmal 
    13. Umar Gul
    14. Wahab Riaz

    The 16-member ODI squad:
    1. Mohammad Hafeez
    2. Ahmed Shehzad
    3. Asad Shafiq
    4. Bilawal Bhatti
    5. Haris Sohail
    6. Misbah-ul-Haq (Captain)
    7. Mohammad Irfan
    8. Nasir Jamshed
    9. Sarfraz Ahmad (wicket-keeper)
    10. Shahid Afridi
    11. Sohail Tanvir
    12. Umar Akmal 
    13. Umar Gul
    14. Wahab Riaz
    15. Younis Khan
    16. Zulfiqar Babar

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