T20 World Cup 2024: Pakistan squad yet to be finalized; Haris Rauf can be named only if....

Pakistan is the only team that has not yet announced its provisional squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024, and that’s the main reason for their premier pacer Haris Rauf’s fitness.

With the T20 World Cup 2024 looming closer, 19 out of the 20 participating teams announced their squads for the prestigious tournament, and now they are eyeing the Pakistan cricket team.

A major concern for the Men in Green is the inclusion of Haris Rauf, a key asset in their bowling arsenal, for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024, which will get underway on June 1 in the USA and Caribbean, as the pacer has been grappling with persistent injury woes.

Pakistan faces T20 World Cup 2024 selection dilemma due to Haris Rauf’s fitness

Haris Rauf's fitness has been a subject of concern for the Pakistan cricket team, and it has been delaying the announcement of the squad from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), his fitness has now reportedly cast doubts over his participation in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024. However, he can be named in the squad only on one condition.

The talented pacer sustained a shoulder dislocation earlier in the year while representing Lahore Qalandars in the PSL 2024. He was named in the Pakistan squad for the recent T20I series against Ireland, but he couldn’t play a single game on the tour due to his current fitness issues.

Meanwhile, a report from the Pakistani news outlet Geo News claimed that Rauf's selection for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 depends solely on his ability to prove his full fitness. The Pakistan cricket team management and national selectors are closely monitoring Rauf's progress, and they are awaiting the report that he is 100% fit to compete at the international level.

PCB likely to announce T20 World Cup 2024 squad on May 22

Rauf has yet to prove his fitness and play a match since February, and that’s why PCB has not yet announced Pakistan’s T20 World Cup squad. According to the Geo News report, the Pakistani selectors have not yet finalized the 15 players for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024.

However, they initially announced an 18-member squad for the upcoming T20I series against England, but they are finding it challenging to trim it to a 15-member squad for the global event, while Usman Khan, Salman Ali Agha, and Hasan Ali are likely to be picked as traveling reserves.

Amidst these deliberations, Pakistan is expected to unveil their T20 World Cup 2024 squad after the conclusion of the first T20I against England on May 22. Notably, Pakistan is placed in Group B alongside arch-rivals India, the USA, Canada, and Ireland for the T20 World Cup 2024.

The Men in Green will kick off their T20 World Cup 2024 campaign against the USA in Texas on June 6, followed by the all-important clash against India at the Nassau County Stadium in New York on June 9. Pakistan will face Canada on June 11 in New York and Ireland on June 16 in Lauderhill.