Pakistan add Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali to playing XI against England

NOTTINGHAM: With an aim to add experience and power-hitting in the line-up, Pakistan have included all-rounder Shoaib Malik and Asif Ali in the final XI for the World Cup match against England.

Pakistan went down against West Indies by seven wickets in its opening match at Trent Bridge on Friday. Now, however, they are now looking to make a strong comeback with a better team combination in the face-off against England.

Malik, a veteran of 284 ODIs and former captain, was added in squad along with hard-hitting batter Ali in the final XI against Monday. The duo replaced Haris Sohail and Imad Wasim from the squad that played West Indies.

Sohail was able to only score eight while Wasim bagged just one run in Pakistan’s opening encounter against West Indies earlier.

Further, former players had earlier expressed their surprise over the non-inclusion of Ali in the team for WI game.

“Asif is a pure hitter and Pakistan team needs a hitter in the line-up,” Wasim Akram had told this correspondent earlier.