The grand launch at Sharjah Cricket Stadium was packed with excitement as Wasim Akram delivered his golden advice, Rakhi Sawant turned up the drama, and Mr. Patlu brought unstoppable laughter.

Group A matches of the 50-over event will be played at Dubai International Cricket Stadium (DICS) while the Group B matches will take place at Sharjah Cricket Stadium

Pakistan women’s team are slotted in Group ‘A’ alongside Australia, India, New Zealand and Sri Lanka. Bangladesh, England, Scotland, South Africa and the West Indies are in Group ‘B’.

Top-order batter Abdullah Shafique, all-rounders Faheem Ashraf and Imad Wasim, and Azam Khan mark their returns to the Pakistan side.

Pakistani bowlers, especially Shaheen Afridi played an excellent role by building pressure on the batting-heavy New Zealand in the first inning while Haris Rauf took four wickets.

Muhammad Wasim: “After reviewing player performances in the highly-competitive National T20 and in consultation with the team management, we have decided to include Haider Ali, Fakhar Zaman and Sarfaraz Ahmed in the squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021”

The seven home T20Is in Lahore and Rawalpindi will be played from 25 September to 14 October, while Pakistan will proceed to take on India in a battle of former champions in their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup opener in Dubai on 24 October.

15-player squad includes five batters, two wicketkeeper-batters, four all-rounders and four fast bowlers; Fakhar Zaman, Usman Qadir and Shahnawaz Dahani named as traveling reserves