Persisting with their policy of keeping their frontline players ahead of the World Cup fresh, Faheem Ashraf will return home on Monday and will no longer take part in the ongoing ODI series against Australia in the UAE. The team management has not sought any replacement, with five pacers present in the squad.
A PCB release said that the national selection committee, chaired by Inzamam ul Haq, has taken this decision in consultation with the team management.
Since September 2018, the 25-year-old has played a Test and 16 limited-overs internationals – divided equally amongst ODIs and T20Is.
Pakistan are scheduled to play England in a T20I and five ODIs ahead of their World Cup opener against the Windies on May 31 at Trent Bridge. In the lead up to the England series, Pakistan play three warm-ups against Kent (April 27), Northamptonshire (April 29), and Leicestershire (May 1). They also play two World Cup warm-ups against Afghanistan and Bangladesh on May 24 and 26.
After Sunday’s match, the series moves to Abu Dhabi where the third ODI will be played on March 27. The last two ODIs will be held at Dubai on March 29 and 31.
