Every News: Sarfraz, key players rested for Australia ODI series

Sarfraz, key players rested for Australia ODI series
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Malik to captain Pak ODI teamBy Our correspondentLAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board selection committee on Friday named Shoaib Malik as captain for the upcoming Australia ODI series. Haris Sohail, Junaid Khan, Umar Akmal and Yasir Shah were recalled while Sarfraz Ahmed is among six players rested.The new-look team also includes four uncapped in Abid Ali, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Hasnain and Saad Ali while Mohammad Hafeez who had a thumb surgery is recovering from thumb surgery and Hussain Talat has been dropped.The 16-member squad for the five-match ODI series against world champions Australia will kick start from Sharjah on March 22 and culminate in Dubai on March 31.The selectors have rested six players from the squad that lost 2-3 to South Africa earlier this year. They are captain Sarfraz Ahmed, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali, Shadab Khan and Shaheen Shah Afridi.Shoaib Malik has been appointed the captain in Sarfraz’s absence. The 37-year-old has played 279 ODIs, including 38 as captain, winning 25 and losing 13. Shoaib has scored 7,379 runs with nine centuries and taken 156 wickets.The rested players have been replaced by cricketers who have either demonstrated in the domestic circuit that they have the ability and are ready to compete at the top level or have reclaimed fitness or form.Meanwhile Pakistan’s chairman of selectors Inzamam-ul-Haq said on the occasion: “I am pleased that we have been able to develop a strong bench-strength that has helped us to make eight changes from the previous series.This is a good sign for Pakistan cricket as we now have a big pool of players who have the capability, talent and potential, and are raring to step up and seize the opportunity when thrown at the deep end.” He added: “The series against the world champions will not be an easy one and these players, in fact, will be tested to their limits. This will provide these players a great opportunity to display their skills and temperament, strengthening their claims for a World Cup call-up as there are a few places up for grabs.”Squad: Shoaib Malik (captain), Abid Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Sohail, Imad Wasim, Imam-ul-Haq, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Saad Ali, Shan Masood, Umar Akmal, Usman Shinwari and Yasir ShahSeries schedule: March 22: 1st ODI, Sharjah (d/n)March 24: 2nd ODI, Sharjah (d/n)March 27: 3rd ODI, Abu Dhabi (d/n)March 29: 4th ODI, Dubai (d/n)March 31: 5th ODI, Dubai (d/n).