Why Pakistan squad for T20 World Cup wasn't announced within ICC's deadline date? What happens now?

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Pakistan haven't yet announced their squad for T20 World Cup 2024 due to fitness and performance concerns of some players. Pakistan's T20I squad for Ireland and England is expected to be announced on Thursday (May 2), while the Pakistan team for T20 World Cup 2024 could be announced on May 23 or 24.

Notably, all teams are allowed to make changes to their squad until 25 May, after which any alteration will require approval from ICC's Event Technical Committee.

While Azam Khan was ruled out of the 5-match T20I series against New Zealand, Mohammad Rizwan could also play just three games. Rizwan and middle-order batter Irfan Khan were ruled out due to hamstring injuries. Star Pacer Haris Rauf is already nursing a shoulder injury which he suffered during the PSL 2024.

The fitness and performance of these players will be monitored in Ireland and England before PCB selectors take a call. Pakistan squad for T20 World Cup 2024 is likely to be announced after the first T20I against England on Wednesday, May 22.

The Wahab Riaz-led selection panel will announce the squad for the tours of Ireland and England on Thursday, May 2. India, Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand have all announced their WC squads until now. May 1 was ICC's cut off date to announce the preliminary squads.

"It (delay) doesn't matter because all these teams can change their entire squad by 24th May after that changes can only be allowed on fitness or injury basis with approval of the technical committee. That is why the PCB and selectors have decided to hold off until after the first match in England," a PCB source told PTI.

The source also added that the selectors also wanted to give more time to Babar Azam and other players to settle down and recapture the old bonding in the dressing room before the T20 World Cup squad is announced. Babar Azam was reappointed as the captain of Pakistan white-ball team ahead of the New Zealand T20Is.

"For the time being we have sent a provisional squad to the ICC for public relations and promotion purposes," the source said.

Probable squad for Ireland and England series: Babar Azam (Capt), Muhammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Irfan Khan Niazi, Usman Khan, Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Usama Mir, Abrar Ahmed, Muhammad Amir, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Abbas Afridi and Aamir Jamal.