ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Sunday announced the 17-member squad for the upcoming tri-nation series and Asia Cup scheduled to be held in the UAE from Aug. 29-Sept. 28, with Salman Ali Agha set to lead the squad in the shortest format of the game.

Pakistan will play a tri-nation series featuring Afghanistan and the UAE at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium from Aug. 29 to Sept. 7. The series will serve as preparation for the Green Shirts ahead of the Asia Cup tournament in September, which will also include Asian giants India and Sri Lanka.

“The eight-team ACC Asia Cup T20I tournament will be staged in Abu Dhabi and Dubai from 9 to 28 September,” the PCB said on its website. “Pakistan are placed in Group ‘A’ alongside India, Oman and UAE.”

Pakistan’s former opening T20 batting duo Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have been dropped from the squad again while pacer Naseem Shah will also not feature in the limited-overs series and tournament.

Pakistan have selected two full-time spinners in the form of Abrar Ahmed and Sufyan Moqim while left-arm pacer Salman Mirza has also been included in the squad.