Pakistan leave out Hafeez for World XI series

He had been ignored by the national selectors on fitness grounds this year even though he was the leading bowler in the Pakistan Super League held earlier this year.

Apart from Sohai, batsman Umar Amin all-rounder Aamir Yamin are also back in the side.

Pakistan squad: Sarfaraz Ahmad (Capt), Fakhar Zaman, Ahmed Shehzad, Shoaib Malik, Babar Azam, Umar Amin, Imad Wasim, Muhammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Hassan Ali, Aamir Yamin, Muhammad Aamir, Rumman Raees, Sohail Khan and Usman Shinwari.

The World XI led by South African Faf Du Plessis will be playing matches on September 12, 13 and 15 marking the return of international cricket to Pakistan.

The axing of Hafeez comes as a surprise as he has been a consistent playmaker for Pakistan in the ODI and T20 formats while Wahab would also have reason to complain as he enjoys a good strike rate in T20 matches.

Pakistan has announced a 16-member squad for the three-match T20 series against a World XI side next month.

Fast bowler Sohail Khan has a made a comeback into the T20 side after a agap of six years.

The Pakistan squad led by wicketkeeper Sarfaraz Ahmed contains no surprises.

Experienced all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez and opener Kamran Akmal have been left out from the side.

Besides the duo, the national selectors have also left out senior pacer Wahab Riaz for the coming series with chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq insisting that recent form and fitness was taken into consideration while finalising the squad.