Pakistan include Wahab Riaz in squad to face Sri Lanka
Wednesday 22 July 2015 12:34, UK
Fast bowler Wahab Riaz has been included in Pakistan's squad for their two Twenty20s against Sri Lanka this month despite an ongoing hand injury.
Riaz suffered the injury during the Test series with Sri Lanka last month, and was subsequently ruled out of the ongoing five-match one-day international series.
Chief selector Haroon Rashid confirmed on Wednesday that the 30-year-old will begin bowling again on Friday under the supervision of National Cricket Academy coaches in Lahore.
If Riaz is unable to recover in time for the T20s in Colombo on July 30 and August 1, fellow-fast bowler Ziaul Haq will replace him in the 15-man squad.
The squad also includes experienced left-arm fast bowler, Sohail Tanvir, who impressed in the Caribbean T20 League. The selectors have also kept faith in leg-spinner Yasir Shah, who played a key role in Pakistan's victory in the Test series against Sri Lanka.
"Yasir has emerged as a strike bowler who takes wickets, and in T20L cricket a bowler having this ability is a big plus," Rashid said.
Pakistan: Shahid Afridi (captain), Ahmed Shehzad, Nauman Anwar, Mohammad Hafeez, Mukhtar Ahmed, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Rizwan, Sarfraz Ahmed, Yasir Shah, Sohail Tanvir, Imad Wasim, Anwar Ali, Mohammad Irfan, Wahab Riaz or Ziaul Haq.
