Asif Ali replaces Saud Shakeel in ODI squad for SA tour
Mar 25, 2021
Lahore [Pakistan], March 25 : Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday said that Asif Ali will replace Saud Shakeel in the ODI squad against South Africa after the latter suffered an injury during the practice match.
"Uncapped middle-order batsman Saud Shakeel has been withdrawn from Pakistan's ODI squad against South Africa after suffering a Grade-1 quadriceps tear in his left leg during Wednesday's 50-over-a-side practice match in Lahore," PCB said in a statement.
"The selection committee, in consultation with the team management, has replaced Saud with Asif Ali, who is already part of the T20I squad for the series in South Africa and Zimbabwe," it added.
As Saud is also part of the two-Test squad against Zimbabwe, he will now stay back at the National High Performance Centre to complete his rehabilitation. If he regains fitness in time, then he will travel to Harare on April 12 along with the other 10 members of the Test side.
The 34-member squad, including 13 officials and 21 players, will depart for Johannesburg on a chartered flight on Friday morning.
On the South Africa tour, Pakistan will play three ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Super League matches from April 2-7 and four T20Is from April 10-16. The side will then depart for Harare for three T20Is and two Tests, before returning home on May 12.
