Why Pakistan is not announcing squad for World T20

Pakistan's selectors have delayed the announcement of the national squad for the Asia Cup T20 and World T20 following some sterling performances in the ongoing Pakistan Super League in Dubai.

A source told PTI that chief selector Haroon Rasheed had sent a 15-member squad to the chairman of the cricket board for final approval but then asked for more time to revise the squad.

"Haroon has held consultations with head coach Waqar Younis and captain Shahid Afridi over the selection of the squad and apparently the biggest issues are the selection of Ahmed Shehzad, Khurrum Manzoor, Kamran Akmal, Muhammad Rizwan, Muhammad Irfan, Rumman Raees and uncapped left arm spinners, Muhammad Nawaz and Muhammad Ashgar," the source said.

Shehzad, who was certain to be axed from the T20 squad before the PSL began last Thursday, hit form in the franchise-based tournament for Quetta Gladiators, which has left captain Afridi asking the selectors to reconsider him.

The source said the selectors had already decided to replace Shehzad with Khurrum Manzoor, who is scoring prolifically in T20 and ODI matches.

"But now the selectors are pondering whether to pick both of them."

He said middle order batsman wicketkeeper-batsman Muhammad Rizwan is also going to face the axe as the selectors are contemplating bringing back the seasoned Kamran Akmal.

Image: Pakistan's T20 captain Shahid Afridi.