Discarded veterans Hafeez, Malik recalled for T20 series against Bangladesh.

Byline: Mohammad Yaqoob

LAHORE -- Discarded veteran all-rounders Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik were the surprise recalls while three uncapped players were also named by the national selectors in the 15-member squad announced on Thursday for the three-match T20 home series against Bangladesh, to be held at the Gaddafi Stadium from Jan 24-27.

The team, which showed six changes from the squad that had toured Australia early last month, was announced by chief selector-cum-head coach Misbah-ul-Haq in a crowded press conference. He was flanked by T20 captain Babar Azam and coordinator of the selection committee Nadeem Khan.

The uncapped players named in the squad are Ahsan Ali, Ammad Butt and Haris Rauf while the three front-line pacers - Muhammad Amir, Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Irfan Senior along with openers Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq, middle-order batsmen Haris Sohail and Asif Ali have been axed.

'We have selected a team which is a blend of young and experienced players with an aim to end our losing streak in the T20s and get back to the winning habits. This factor has played a crucial role in our decision-making,' said Misbah at the presser.

However, when asked why he had recalled the discarded duo of Malik and Hafeez for the BD series when a similar decision of his to recall Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal had backfired against a young Sri Lankan side in November, Misbah said: 'I believe both Hafeez and Malik still have plenty to offer. Though they were not part of the team in the past but we felt their absence.

Uncapped Ahsan, Ammad and Haris named in 15-member squad

'We have to do these experiments till the time we select our best team. We have the opportunity to go for these experiments since the World Cup is still quite far off. Yes, in the previous Sri Lanka we could not achieve the desired results, but there is no need to be afraid of making experiments,' he said.

'We tried different combinations in the series against Sri Lanka and Australia and they didn't work the way we had expected,' observed Misbah. 'Hafeez and Malik bring a total of 200 T20Is between them to the team and if you mix these with the youngsters we have in the side, then I think it becomes a good blend of experience and youth,' he said.

'The high-pressure HBL Pakistan Super League is starting in four weeks' time and if Malik and Hafeez can reclaim their winning form, then they will be back in contention for the upcoming assignments including the Asia Cup and ICC Men's...