Pakistan finalizes 30 players for ICC Cricket World Cup

ISLAMABAD, Dec. 6 (NsNewsWire) — The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly finalized its 30 probable players for next year’s ICC Cricket World Cup to be held in Australia and New Zealand, sources said on Friday.

The sources said the national selection committee of the PCB prepared the list of players after judging their fitness, performance and previous records at the fast tracks, reports Xinhua.

The list of 30 probables includes all players who have been selected for the on-going Twenty20 and One-day International series against New Zealand being held in United Arab Emirates.

Apart from the players in the current teams, wicket-keeper batsman Kamran Akmal, former captain Shoaib Malik, fast bowlers Junaid Khan, Muhammad Talha, Imran Khan and Ahsan Adil have been included in the list.

Right-hand off-spin bowler Saeed Ajmal, who was suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for his dubious bowling action that violated the game’s rules, has also won the selectors’ favor.

Ajmal who has been working to modify his action in Britain under the supervision of former off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq will return home next week to play a couple of domestic games before going for final biometric test.

Earlier on Thursday, Ajmal told the media that he was confident to come clean from the test to be taken by the ICC.

The PCB selection committee had forwarded the list to the chairman for the final decision.

The PCB will send its 30-member list to the ICC in the next couple of days before the deadline Dec. 8 expires, the sources said, adding that the board will also announce its 15-member final team before Jan. 7.

Total 14 teams including Pakistan will feature in the 11th ICC Cricket World Cup to be held from Feb. 14 to March 29 in Australia and New Zealand.