The Pakistan cricket team will leave for the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday for a five-match one-day international (ODI) series against Australia starting March 22 in Dubai.
Six players from the squad that lost 2-3 to South Africa earlier this year have been rested, including skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed. Shoaib Malik will lead the team in his absence.
Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali, Shadab Khan and Shaheen Shah Afridi have also been rested in view of the upcoming World Cup, while Hussain Talat has been dropped. Mohammad Hafeez was not considered as he is recovering from a thumb surgery.
Rookie fast bowler Mohammad Hasnain, who impressed in the recently concluded Pakistan Super League with his raw pace, is in the squad. Three other uncapped players include Abid Ali, Mohammad Abbas and Saad Ali.
Squad
1. Shoaib Malik (captain)
2. Abid Ali
3. Faheem Ashraf
4. Haris Sohail
5. Imad Wasim
6. Imam-ul-Haq
7. Junaid Khan
8. Mohammad Abbas
9. Mohammad Amir
10. Mohammad Hasnain
11. Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper)
12. Saad Ali
13. Shan Masood
14. Umar Akmal
15. Usman Shinwari
16. Yasir Shah
Fixtures
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)
