Fawad to lead Pakistan A in Sri Lanka

Fawad Alam will lead the Pakistan A one-day and four-day squad on their month-long tour of Sri Lanka. Pakistan A are scheduled to play three one-day and as many four-day games between April 26 and May 23.

Alam, 29, has played three Tests and 35 ODIs for Pakistan and averages over 40 in both formats. Umar Amin has been named Alam's deputy. Amin had scored 410 runs in nine List A games this season at an average of 51.25, including two successive hundreds in the Pentangular Cup One Day tournament.

Head of the selection committee, Haroon Rashid, said the tour was part of "the long-term selection strategy to raise the back-up pool to complement the senior team."

"In this perspective, tours of junior teams are of paramount important. This tour of Sri Lanka is the first step in this direction. We would appreciate if a few more tours on an annual basis are arranged, enabling these upcoming players to get the exposure at the international level. This would help the selection committee to assess the potential of these players for their induction in the senior Pakistan team," Rashid said.

Pakistan A squad for four-day matches: Shan Masood, Khurram Manzoor, Umar Siddiq, Umar Amin (vice-captain), Ali Waqas, Usman Salahuddin, Ali Asad, Imad Wasim, Fawad Alam (captain), Zafar Gohar, Shahzaib Ahmed, Adnan Akmal (wicket-keeper), Mir Hamza, Bilawal Bhatti, Shehzad Azam, Imran Khan.

Standby players: Zia-ul-Haq, Saad Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Naeemuddin.

One-day squad: Khurram Manzoor, Umar Siddiq, Mukhtar Ahmed, Umar Amin (vice-captain), Fawad Alam (captain), Ali Waqas, Saad Nasim, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Israrullah, Imad Wasim, Zafar Gohar, Shahzaib Ahmed, Mir Hamza, Bilawal Bhatti, Ehsan Adil, Tabish Khan.