PAK vs SL: Hasan Ali To Miss One-Dayers Due To Back Spasm

Misbah-ul-Haq on Sunday announced a 16-member squad for three ODIs against Sri Lanka

Pakistan men’s team head coach and chief selector, Misbah-ul-Haq on Sunday announced a 16-member squad for three ODIs against Sri Lanka. The tour was put in jeopardy after Sri Lanka's PMO received a warning of a terror attack. However, Sri Lankan Cricket Board (SLC) on Wednesday confirmed that the team will go ahead with the tour despite the security threat. The most populous city in Pakistan, Karachi, hosts one-dayers on 27, 29 September and 2 October. Pakistan players Abid Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan and Usman Shinwari have earned recalls. Meanwhile, fast bowler Hasan Ali will miss the Pak vs SL series after getting ruled out due to a back spasm. Ali will undergo rehab at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore. "After thorough discussions with the members of the selection committee and meticulous planning, I feel we have put together the best possible squad. These are the only 50-over matches we play this season and we want to make their optimum use," Misbah-ul-Haq was quoted as saying in the PCB press release. "Over the course of my cricketing career, I have realised there are no easy games and there are no easy opponents in cricket," he added. "The five boys, who have been recalled, were straightforward selections," Misbah said on the returning players. "This is, however, a perfect opportunity for these players to prove their mettle in international cricket and cement their place in the one-day side," he added. Earlier, Sri Lanka players Lasith Malinga, Niroshan Dickwella, Kusal Janith Perera, Dhananjaya De Silva, Thisara Perera, Akila Dhananjaya, Angelo Mathews, Suranga Lakmal, Dinesh Chandimal, and Dimuth Karunaratne chose not to participate in the series and opted out of the Pakistan tour. Pakistan Squad: Sarfaraz Ahmed (captain), Babar Azam (vice-captain), Abid Ali, Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan, Usman Shinwari, Wahab Riaz