The Pakistan Cricket Board, on Tuesday, confirmed the squad for the 19th Asian Games set to take place in Hangzhou, China, with all-rounder Qasim Akram confirmed as captain. According to the tournament's rule, the Shaheens will get a direct entry into the quarter-finals, slated to be held on October 3rd and 4th.
Akram, who is only 20 years old, has played in 20 first-class games and 40 T20 matches alongside captaining Pakistan in the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2022. It's also worth noting that the selectors have picked 8 players, who have already represented Pakistan at the international level.
Promising batter Haider Ali and speedster Mohammad Hasnain included:
The players who have donned their jerseys at the international level and included in the squad are Aamir Jamal (2 T20Is), Arshad Iqbal (1 T20I), Asif Ali (21 ODIs, 55 T20Is), Haider Ali (2 ODIs, 33 T20Is), Khushdil Shah (10 ODIs, 24 T20Is), Mohammad Hasnain (9 ODIs, 27 T20Is), Shahnawaz Dahani (2 ODIs, 11 T20Is) and Usman Qadir (1 ODI, 23 T20Is).
The likes of Aamir Jamal, Arafat Minhas, Arshad Iqbal, Omair Bin Yousuf, Qasim Akram, Rohail Nazir, Shahnawaz Dahani and Sufiyan Muqeem have been associated with the Shaheens side recently. The semi-finals will take place on October 6th, with the final scheduled for the 7th. The Men in Green have clinched the bronze medal once during their only appearance in the tournament in 2016.
Pakistan squad for Asian Games 2023:
Qasim Akram (captain), Omair Bin Yousuf (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal, Arafat Minhas, Arshad Iqbal, Asif Ali, Haider Ali, Khushdil Shah, Mirza Tahir Baig, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Akhlaq (wk), Rohail Nazir, Shahnawaz Dahani, Sufiyan Muqeem and Usman Qadir.
Non-traveling reserves – Abdul Wahid Bangalzai, Mehran Mumtaz, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Muhammad Irfan Khan Niazi and Mubasir Khan
