Pakistan have made a late change to their T20I squad ahead of the three-match series against Bangladesh. Fast bowler Mohammad Wasim Jr. has been ruled out with a side strain, and fellow pacer Abbas Afridi has been named as his replacement.
According to a press release from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Wasim sustained the injury during the Pakistan Super League (PSL). The team had initially hoped he would recover in time for the series, but with his condition unchanged, they’ve opted to bring in Abbas. Wasim will now continue his rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore.
So far, Wasim has played 20 T20Is for Pakistan, picking up 33 wickets. He was also in excellent form during the recently concluded PSL. Abbas, too, impressed in the tournament, taking 17 wickets in 11 matches to become the joint second-highest wicket-taker.
The PCB had already named a youthful squad for the Bangladesh series, opting to rest several senior players. Just like in the previous series against New Zealand, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are not part of the squad. Star pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi is also missing from this series.
The three-match series begins today at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium. Initially scheduled as a five-match contest, it was reduced to three games due to political tensions between India and Pakistan. The remaining two games will be played on May 30 and June 1.
