Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal recalled for World T20

Pakistan have recalled wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal and former captain Shoaib Malik in their squad for the World Twenty20, which starts in Bangladesh in March.

Malik last played a T20 for Pakistan in November 2013 against South Africa in the UAE but was dropped for the series against Sri Lanka. Akmal, meanwhile, has not been a part of Pakistan's T20 playing XI since March last year.

Pacer Mohammad Irfan has been left out of the squads for the Asia Cup and World T20, after injuring himself in a domestic game. The fast bowler had suffered a hairline fracture on his hip in early December and was ruled out of the series against Sri Lanka but had returned to competitive cricket recently. However, he aggravated the injury during a match in the ongoing T20 tournament. A medical assessment at the National Cricket Academy showed the bowler was unfit.

"Irfan was left out as he fell and was injured again, and he needs some time for recovery," Azhar Khan, the interim chief selector said.

Asad Shafiq, who has scored just one fifty in his last 11 ODI innings was dropped from the Asia Cup squad in favour of Fawad Alam. Mohammad Talha, who is still uncapped in ODIs and T20s, was named in both squads following his performance in the Sharjah Test against Sri Lanka in January.

Pakistan squad for Asia Cup: Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Sharjeel Khan, Shahid Afridi, Umar Akmal, Sohaib Maqsood, Fawad Alam, Saeed Ajmal, Abdur Rehman, Junaid Khan, Umar Gul, Anwar Ali, Bilawal Bhatti, Mohammad Talha

Pakistan squad for World Twenty20: Mohammad Hafeez (capt), Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Saeed Ajmal, Umar Gul, Sharjeel Khan, Sohaib Maqsood, Junaid Khan, Bilawal Bhatti, Sohail Tanvir, Umar Akmal, Zulfiqar Babar, Mohammad Talha, Kamran Akmal, Ahmed Shehzad