Pakistan's star batsman ruled out of West Indies ODI series

Veteran Pakistani batsman Mohammad Hafeez has been ruled out of the upcoming ODI series against West Indies due to fitness concerns. According to the Express Tribune, the former T20 skipper had failed to recover from the knee injury he picked during the ODI series against England.

Opener Sami Aslam has also been left out from the squad after he managed to score just 33 runs in three matches he played against England.

However, middle-order batsmen Umar Akmal and Asad Shafiq are all set to make a return to the ODI side against the Caribbean side after displaying some really impressive performances during the recently-concluded National T20 Cup. Umar last represented the country in the 50-over format in the World Cup 2015, while Shafiq last played for Pakistan in the format against Zimbabwe in October last year.

Fast-bowler Rahat Ali, on the other, is also expected to make a return in the ODI squad in place of Umar Gul, whereas either wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan or opener Khalid Latif will make it to the final 15-member squad for the series.

Pakistan is slated to play three-match ODI series against West Indies, starting from September 30 in Sharjah.

The probable Pakistan squad against West Indies is as follows:

Azhar Ali (captain), Sharjeel Khan, Babar Azam, Sarfraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper-batsman), Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Asad Shafiq, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Nawaz, Muhammad Amir, Wahab Riaz, Hasan Ali, Rahat Ali, Yasir Shah, Khalid Latif/ Mohammad Rizwan.