Gul, Jamshed not part of Pakistan’s ODI squad

Fast-bowler Umar Gul has failed in his comeback bid after he was ignored for the three-match One-Day International series against Sri Lanka to take place in the UAE from Wednesday.

Gul underwent knee surgery in May and has not played for Pakistan since the tour of South Africa earlier this year.

The fast-bowler underwent a fitness test at the National Cricket Academy but failed to impress the selectors.

Pakistan also left out opener Nasir Jamshed and middle-order batsman Umar Amin from their 15-man squad.

Jamshed and Amin were part of the squad which beat South Africa 2-1 away last month – Pakistan’s maiden series-win against the Proteas.

The 24-year-old Jamshed scored two and 24 in the two matches he played of the series while Amin made 25 in his only appearance.

Sharjeel Khan, 24-year-old opener who is also part of the Twenty20 squad, earned a place in the one-day squad for the first time, replacing Jamshed.

Pakistan will also play three Tests against Sri Lanka for which a squad will be named later.

Paceman Mohammad Irfan was not considered as he is recuperating from an injury.

“Misbah-ul-Haq and Mohammad Hafeez had conveyed to the selectors they wanted Gul back in the national side for the Sri Lanka series,” a Pakistan Cricket Board official had told PTI.

“Because of this, the selectors decided to have a fitness test for Gul where he bowled in the nets.

“But apparently he failed to convince the selectors that he had made a 100 per cent recovery from his operation and was match-fit for international cricket.”

Gul, 29, has taken 163 Test, 161 ODI and 74 T20 wickets in his career.

ODI squad: Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Sharjeel Khan, Ahmed Shehzad, Sohaib Maqsood, Haris Sohail, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Saeed Ajmal, Abdur Rehman, Junaid Khan, Anwar Ali, Sohail Tanvir, Bilawal Bhatti.