Pakistan have recalled Mohammad Amir for the upcoming T20I series against the Proteas. 

The PCB selectors have made one change from the squad that defeated Australia and New Zealand 3-0. Fast bowler Amir has returned to the side and has replaced Waqas Maqsood.

The matches will be held on 1, 3 and 6 February in Cape Town, Johannesburg and at Centurion respectively, with top-ranked Pakistan aiming to stretch their unbeaten run to beyond nine matches. In 2018, Pakistan won a world record 17 out of 19 T20Is.

Asif Ali and Sahibzada Farhan have been drafted in the side that is presently involved in ODIs, while the players returning home following the 50-over matches are: Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Rizwan and Shan Masood.

Asif had a successful Mzansi Super League in South Africa, where he scored 150 runs at a strike rate of over 180 for the Cape Town Blitz. In a 16-match T20I career, Asif has scored 237 runs at a strike rate of just under 140.

Farhan has scores of 0, 39 and one in his three T20I innings, but he has scored 452 runs in 22 T20 matches at a strike rate of under 110.

‘Once again, the selectors have gone ahead with the policy of maintaining consistency and retaining a winning combination,’ said chairman of Pakistan cricket selectors, Inzamam-ul-Haq.

‘While our focus is very much on this year’s ICC Cricket World Cup, we cannot forget that the ICC T20 World Cup is in Australia in the second half of 2020.

‘So, we need to give as much exposure and experience to our up-and-coming players as possible, but without compromising on the assignments in hand.’

Squad: 

Sarfaraz Ahmed (captain, wicketkeeper)
Asif Ali
Babar Azam
Faheem Ashraf
Fakhar Zaman
Hasan Ali
Hussain Talat
Imad Wasim
Mohammad Amir
Mohammad Hafeez
Sahibzada Farhan
Shadab Khan
Shaheen Afridi
Shoaib Malik
Usman Shinwari

Match schedule:

1 February – 1st T20I, Cape Town
3 February – 2nd T20I, Johannesburg
6 February – 3rd T20I, Centurion