Saeed Ajmal and Shoaib Malik included in Pakistan 30-man probable squad for 2015 Cricket World Cup

The Pakistan selectors have named a 30-member probable squad for the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup. There hasn't been any surprises although the omission of all-rounder, Abdul Razzaq, stands out.

Discarded batsman, Shoaib Malik, and wicket-keeper, Kamran Akmal, have been included in the probables list while Test batsman Azhar Ali also finds a place. Misbah-ul-Haq has been named as the captain of the team which includes as many as five openers, nine middle-order batsmen, six pace bowlers, four spinners, four all-rounders and two wicket-keepers.

Speaking to the press after unveiling the list, Chief Selector, Moin Khan expressed confidence that Pakistan would do very well in the tournament, to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand. "At the moment, winning or losing aside, team Pakistan is performing adequately well in all three formats of the game. The belief in the think tank is that the squad holds immense potential and promise to perform in any conditions," he said.

Stressing upon physical fitness, Moin said most of the players selected are in extremely good shape, physically, and would be an asset to the team. "The most positive aspect is that some of our foremost proven talents have overcome physical issues and are raring to be given an opportunity to have a tilt at the global honours," he said.

Pakistan are due to play five ODIs against New Zealand in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and a further two matches in New Zealand before the World Cup. This, as well as some practice games - Moin felt - would help Pakistan reached peak form before the World Cup. "In our assessment, by the time the five 50-over games in the UAE against the Black Caps and the away short ODI series against New Zealand as well as the practice games are over in the next two months or thereabouts immediately prior to the mega event, Team Pakistan will be close to hitting its peak," Moin noted.

Recalling the victorious 1992 World Cup campaign, Moin hoped for similar results this time around as well. "For me personally, the 1992 World Cup victory ranks amongst our greatest cricketing achievements. I am positive that the present outfit too has the capacity to replicate that triumph Down Under," he concluded.

30-man probables list: Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Nasir Jamshed, Sharjeel Khan, Sami Aslam, Misbah-ul-Haq, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Sohaib Maqsood, Fawad Alam, Haris Sohail, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Mohammad Irfan, Wahab Riaz, Junaid Khan, Umar Gul, Ehsan Adil, Mohammad Talha, Saeed Ajmal, Zulfiqar Babar, Raza Hasan, Yasir Shah, Shahid Afridi, Anwar Ali, Bilawal Bhatti, Sohail Tanvir, Sarfraz Ahmad, Kamran Akmal.