Sarfaraz Ahmed and Fakhar Zaman added to Pakistan men's T20 World Cup squad, Saqlain Mushtaq to lead as interim coach

Azam Khan and Mohammad Hasnain drop out of the original squad while Khushdil Shah is named among the three reserves

Pakistan have named Sarfaraz Ahmed and Fakhar Zaman in their final squad ahead of the men's T20 World Cup.

Haider Ali has also made the cut, but Azam Khan, Mohammad Hasnain and Khushdil Shah - who is now among the reserves - drop out.

Saqlain Mushtaq, the iconic spinner who played 218 times for Pakistan, has been confirmed as interim coach for the tournament.

He was due to take charge for New Zealand's tour last month before it was pulled due to the tourists having security concerns.

Misbah-ul-Haq stood down at the start of September with a year still to run on his contract.

Men's T20 World Cup 2021 squads: Full player list for all countries

Among Mushtaq's backroom team will be former Australia batter Matthew Hayden and ex-South Africa seamer Vernon Philander.

Former skipper Sarfaraz was not included in the original squad but has forced his way in following some impressive form in the National T20 Cup for Sindh.

The 34-year-old has averaged 46.25 in seven innings and will likely be the back-up to Mohammad Rizwan.

Twenty-one-year-old Haider is the top scorer in the domestic 20-over competition with 315 runs in eight matches at a strike rate of 145.83.

^{Saqlain was due to lead Pakistan against New Zealand}

Fakhar, who has played 109 internationals including more than 50 T20s, bolsters a batting line-up that could lose Sohaib Maqsood.

The right-handed middle-order batter has undergone an MRI scan on a lower back injury and his place in the squad will be confirmed subject to medical advice.

Pakistan kick-off their World Cup against arch-rivals India in Dubai on October 24.

Pakistan squad: Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Asif Ali, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sohaib Maqsood, Fakhar Zaman

Reserves: Khushdil Shah, Shahnawaz Dahani, Usman Qadir

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