The selectors have named a 15-player squad which largely comprises players with international experience for the eight-team tournament. The batting includes Hasan Nawaz, who made a comeback in Pakistan’s ODI team after a year’s gap in the recent tri-series, Haider Ali, Maaz Sadaqat, Shamyl Hussain, Farhan Yousaf, and Shahzaib Khan.
Fast bowler Mohammad Hasnain, who made his ODI debut in 2019, leads the bowling department, which includes Ahmed Daniyal, Akif Javed, and Sufyan Moqim, who was in the Pakistan squad for the Rawalpindi leg of the tri-series.
The selectors have named three allrounders in Mohammad Imran, Saad Masood, and Danish Aziz, while former Pakistan U19 captain Rohail Nazir is the only wicketkeeper. Imran made his Test debut in September in the third Test at Edgbaston against England and played his first T20I against Sri Lanka last month.
Yousaf and Shahzaib are the only two players who are yet to make their debuts for Pakistan.
Pakistan are grouped with UAE, India A, and Nepal in Group B, and will begin their title defence on November 20 against UAE. They play India A on November 22 and their last group-stage match will be on November 25 against Nepal. Group A comprises Bangladesh A, Sri Lanka A, Afghanistan A and Hong Kong, China. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Rising Stars Asia Cup semi-finals, scheduled for November 26 and 27.
Pakistan Shaheens squad for Rising Stars Asia Cup
Abdul Samad (capt), Ahmed Daniyal, Akif Javed, Danish Aziz, Farhan Yousaf, Haider Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Imran, Rohail Nazir (wk), Saad Masood, Shahzaib Khan, Shamyl Hussain, Sufyan Moqim
