Oz pack pace for mini World Cup
Sydney, April 20: Fast bowlers Mitchell Starc and James Pattinson were Thursday named in Australia’s 15-man squad for next month’s ICC Champions Trophy in England and Wales.
Starc has recovered from a stress fracture in his right foot which sent him home from Australia’s Test series in India last month, while Pattinson is fit again after serious shin and back injuries.
Pattinson is currently playing for Nottinghamshire in English cricket after taking part in Victoria’s Sheffield Shield championship victory in the recently finished domestic season.
Selectors have boosted Australia’s fast-bowling stocks for the Champions Trophy with Starc, Pattinson and John Hastings joining Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins.
Big-hitting Queensland batsman Chris Lynn has also been named in the squad as he returns from a third shoulder injury inside two years, while playing for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League.
BANGLADESH’S SHAFIUL GETS NOD Bangladesh recalled fitagain fast bowler Shafiul Islam as they named a 15man squad.
Shafiul, who last played for Bangladesh in October, replaces Subashis Roy, the only change to the squad that drew the recent ODI series 1-1 in Sri Lanka.
“Now he looks fit and we hope the conditions in UK will also suit his bowling,” said chief selector Minhajul Abedin. Wicketkeeper-batsman Nurul Hasan and allrounder Shuvagata Hom, who were included in the extended squad in Sri Lanka but did not play, missed out. — AFP