Pakistan recall Umar Gul for ODI series against Ireland, England

Johannesburg: Pakistan paceman Umar Gul has been recalled in the ODI squad after a 15-month lay-off for the upcoming series against Ireland and England, starting later this month.

The 32-year-old, who has notched up a total of 173 wickets in 126 ODI matches, made his last one-day appearance in Dhaka against Bangladesh in April 2015 before being discarded from the squad due to his lack of form and fitness.

The Azhar Ali-led side will also feature uncapped all-rounder Hasan Ali.

However, opener Ahmed Shehzad and middle-order batsman Umar Akmal have not been included in the ODI squad for the upcoming series, Sport24 reported.

Last week, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shahryar Khan had said that both players were axed from the initial 31-man squad because of the disciplinary issues.

Pakistan will play two-match ODI series against Ireland in Dublin on August 18 and 20 before heading to England to play five ODI’s, starting in Southampton from August 24.

The Pakistan ODI squad is as follows:

Azhar Ali (captain), Sharjeel Khan, Sami Aslam, Mohammad Hafeez, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz, Hasan Ali, Umar Gul, Imad Wasim, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Nawaz.

ANI