Pakistan name squad amidst security fears

Pakistan are open to playing next month's Twenty20 World Cup matches at a neutral venue if the government does not clear their tour of India over security concerns, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan has said.

View: All the WT20 squads named so far

Pakistan's participation in the March 8-April 3 tournament across the border depends on government clearance as there are specific threats and it has already been communicated to the International Cricket Council (ICC), Khan told reporters in Lahore.

"We have told the ICC the decision is with the government and it's not just us who have to decide," Khan said on Tuesday.

"We need to understand that there are specific Pakistan-oriented security threats and we are concerned, hence (we) involved the government."

Majority-Muslim Pakistan and India, who have a Hindu majority, have fought three wars since becoming separate countries in 1947 after independence from Britain.

Last month, Australia pulled out of the under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh because of concerns over the safety and security of their squad after postponing a Test tour of the country in October for similar reasons.

"We didn't say or propose playing the World T20 matches at (a) neutral venue but someone at the ICC meeting said that if there are concerns over any extremist activity (at Pakistan matches), then neutral venues will be looked into," Khan said.

"Since it's an ICC event and not a bilateral series, we have to play it but, if the decision (by the government) is negative, then maybe the ICC could say that our matches be held in neutral venues in Sri Lanka or United Arab Emirates, and we will be ready for that."

Pakistan are set to play Australia on March 25 in Mohali

The ICC and the Indian cricket board (BCCI) could not be immediately reached for comment.

Pakistan have hosted all their international matches in the UAE since a bus carrying the Sri Lanka team was attacked by gunmen in 2009 in Lahore.

Pakistan umpire Aleem Dar was withdrawn from a series between India and South Africa in October after protesters stormed the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai, demanding his removal.

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Meanwhile, Pakistan have named their World T20 squad on Wednesday.

Uncapped trio Rumman Rais, Khurram Manzoor and Mohammad Nawaz feature, while Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Gul were both dropped.

Pakistan squad: Shahid Afridi (c), Mohammed Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Sarfraz Ahmed, Babr Azam, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Anwar Ali, Mohammad Irfan, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Nawaz, Khurram Manzoor, Rumman Rais

Mohammad Amir takes a hat-trick for the Karachi Kings in a Pakistan Super League match in Dubai

Raees is a 24-year-old left-arm fast bowler and Nawaz, 21, is a left-arm spinner. Both impressed selectors in Pakistan's domestic T20 competition - the Pakistan Super League (PSL) - being played in the United Arab Emirates.

Ahmed has struggled in the shortest format, scoring only one half-century in his last 12 T20s, and is replaced as opener by another uncapped player Khurram Manzoor.

Manzoor has played 16 Tests and seven one-day internationals but is yet to make his T20 debut. The right-hander was also ignored by all five franchises in the PSL, but was chosen by selectors after performing well against England Lions last month in the UAE.

"The team has been selected keeping in mind the conditions during Asia Cup and World T20 and the recent performances of some players in domestic and A Team tours," chief selector Haroon Rashid said in a statement.

"The team is a fine blend of experience and youth, and the selectors believe that team will do well in both tournaments."

While picking Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad Aamer and Wahab Riaz as frontline fast bowlers, selectors ignored fit-again paceman Umar Gul, who has 85 wickets in 60 T20s, six behind all-time leading wicket-taker and Pakistan T20 captain Shahid Afridi.

The selectors also dropped middle-order batsmen Sohaib Maqsood and Mohammad Rizwan after both failed in Pakistan's recent 3-0 rout by England in the UAE.

Babar Azam has been given an opportunity to beef up Pakistan's batting after the 21-year-old scored 375 runs in his nine ODIs, but is yet to play in a T20 international.