Seven BPL players included in Pakistan's T20I squad against Sri Lanka

As many as seven Pakistan players who were signed by different franchisees of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) were named in Pakistan's squad for the next month's three-match T20 International series against Sri Lanka, report agencies.
Those seven players would miss their respective side's BPL matches during the period when they will play against Sri Lanka
Rangpur Riders' Faheem Ashraf and Khawaja Nafay, Rajshahi Warriors' Mohammad Nawaz and Shahibzada Farhan, Dhaka Capitals' Salman Mirza and Usman Khan and Sylhet Titans' Saim Ayub were selected in the national squad for the series, which will be held from January 7 to 11 in Sri Lanka's Dambulla.
However, the seven players are expected to remain available for their respective BPL teams during the Sylhet phase, which concludes on January 02.
But they will miss the Chattogram phase of BPL, which will run from January 05 to 12.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) stated that the squad features several new faces, as some senior players were allowed to participate in the Big Bash League (BBL) in Australia.
Earlier, Fit-again allrounder Shadab Khan returned to Pakistan's squad for next month's three-match Twenty20 international series in Sri Lanka, selectors said Sunday.
The 27-year-old missed a large part of Pakistan's cricket with a shoulder injury since June but regained full fitness after surgery in Britain. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said the squad had new players as some seniors were allowed to play in the Big Bash League in Australia.
"Shadab is included in the squad after he regained full fitness for the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka in Dambulla on 07, 09 and 11 January," said a PCB release.
Senior batsman Babar Azam and pace bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf and Hasan Ali will miss the tour due to playing in Australia.
Salman Ali Agha will continue to lead the side who are in the final phase of preparations for the Twenty20 World Cup in February-March in India and Sri Lanka.
Uncapped wicketkeeper-batsman Khawaja Nafay is also included in the squad after his impressive show with Pakistan's second string team in the last two years.
While BBL's Pakistani participants - Shaheen Shah Afridi, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Haris Rauf and Hasan Ali - have almost entirely been spared, Pakistan have called up several players taking part in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). Nafay, Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan and Usman Khan are currently playing in the BPL, which clashes with the three-match series. They will leave their respective BPL sides to link up with the squad in Sri Lanka. When announced, this series was viewed as a way to fine tune preparations ahead of the T20 World Cup. A statement on the PCB website declared that the "series would provide Pakistan an opportunity to finalise their squad" ahead of the World Cup. However, with the exclusion of some players whose place in the World Cup is largely guaranteed, it represents a chance for a number of new players to stake a claim in the medium term. Top-order batter Abdul Samad has been knocking on the door of the national side for the best part of a year and, alongside Nafay, offers Pakistan further top-order depth in an already crowded field of players vying for a spot in the top four.
Fast bowler Salman Mirza had begun to establish a first-team slot for himself at the back end of last year, playing most recently in Pakistan's tri-series final win over Sri Lanka. In the absence of either Afridi or Rauf, he will, alongside Naseem Shah, be the leader of Pakistan's seam attack in Sri Lanka, likely vying for a fast-bowling slot at the World Cup alongside Mohammad Wasim, Naseem and Rauf.