Aqib Javed reveals why Haris Rauf was dropped from Pakistan’s T20 World Cup squad

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has dropped express pacer Haris Rauf from its 15-member squad for the ICC T20 World Cup, with selector Aaqib Javed saying the fast bowler does not fit the team’s planned combination for conditions in Sri Lanka.

Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, Aaqib said the selection panel assessed playing conditions while finalising the squad for the tournament, which will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka next month.

“Haris Rauf has played a lot of cricket for Pakistan, but we kept Sri Lankan conditions in mind while selecting the squad,” Aaqib said.

Rauf, 32, recently impressed in Australia’s Big Bash League, where he picked up 20 wickets. He is also Pakistan’s highest wicket-taker in T20 internationals, with 133 wickets in 94 matches.

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The squad announcement was made by PCB High Performance Director and national selector Aaqib Javed alongside Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha and white-ball head coach Michael James Hesson at the Gaddafi Stadium.

Former captains Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi, who were left out of the recent T20I series against Sri Lanka, have been recalled for the World Cup. All-rounder Shadab Khan, who returned during the Sri Lanka series, has also retained his place.

Several players, including Salman, Faheem Ashraf, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Sahibzada Farhan and Usman Tariq, have earned their first call-ups for a major ICC event.

The 20-team tournament will be played from February 7 to March 8, with each side featuring in four group matches before the Super Eight and knockout stages.

Pakistan will also play a three-match T20I series against Australia at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on January 29, 31 and February 1 as part of their preparations.

15-member squad:

Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wk) and Usman Tariq.