18 August,2016 08:11 AM IST | | AFP
It's all change for Pakistan as they return to white-ball cricket for two one day internationals against Ireland in Malahide near Dublin, starting today, ahead of their five-match series with England
Pakistan bowler Umar Gul
Malahide (Ireland): It's all change for Pakistan as they return to white-ball cricket for two one day internationals against Ireland in Malahide near Dublin, starting today, ahead of their five-match series with England.
Pakistan bowler Umar Gul
Only six of the players who took part in the exciting Test series in England - which they drew 2-2 with a four-day victory at The Oval on Sunday - stay on for the ODIs, in a 15-man squad captained by Azhar Ali.
Sami Aslam, Mohammad Hafeez and Azhar are the only specialist batsmen who keep their places along with Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz and Yasir Shah, but it is the return of pace bowler Umar Gul, which has been the major talking point.
Gul, 32, who played against Ireland in Pakistan's shock World Cup defeat back in 2007, has not played 50-over cricket for 16 months but his experience of English conditions has seen him replace the giant Mohammad Irfan.
The only uncapped player in the squad is also a seam bowler, 22-year-old Hasan Ali. Slow left arm all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz has also been promoted, hoping to add to his two T20 internationals.
Ireland were dealt a huge blow on Tuesday with the news that former England pace bowler Boyd Rankin has not only been ruled out of the series but the rest of the season.
