Pakistan has made four changes to its squad for this month's Asia Cup followed by the World Twenty20 including the axing of struggling opener Ahmed Shehzad after a poor run of form. The 24-year-old Shehzad managed just 33 runs in Pakistan's 2-1 Twenty20 series loss in New Zealand last month and is one of four changes selectors made from the last tour. Also out are Sohaib Maqsood, paceman Umar Gul and wicketkeeper batsman Mohammad Rizwan as chief selector Haroon Rasheed said the squad was selected after considering the conditions in Asia Cup hosts Bangladesh and India, where the World Twenty20 will be staged. "While picking the squad, the team management and skipper were consulted by the selectors, and all concerned gave their consent in this regard," Rasheed said. "The Twenty20 team has been selected keeping in mind the conditions and the recent performances of some players in domestic and A team tours. The team is a fine blend of experience and youth and the selectors believe that team will do well in both tournaments." Shehzad's place goes to 29-year-old Khurram Manzoor who had played 16 Tests and seven ODIs for Pakistan but has never featured in a Twenty20 game. He scored 309 runs in Pakistan's Twenty20 tournament with a strike rate of 133 which earned him the place. Left-arm paceman Rumman Raees and left-arm spinning all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz were also rewarded for their showings at domestic level. Also returning to the squad is lanky paceman Mohammad Irfan, rested for the Twenty20 series in New Zealand, making a four-pronged pace attack with all left-handers, with the sole right arm bowler coming in the shape of medium pacer Anwar Ali. The Asia Cup will be played from Feb. 24-March 6 followed by the World Twenty20 from March 8-April 3. Squad: Shahid Afridi (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Sarfraz Ahmed, Babar Azam, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Anwar Ali, Mohammad Irfan, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Nawaz, Khurram Manzoor, Rumman Raees. Pakistan awaits govt go-ahead Pakistan is open to playing next month's World Twenty20 matches at a neutral venue if the government does not clear its tour of India over security concerns, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan has said. 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), Shaharyar told reporters in Lahore. "We have told the International Cricket Council 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."
