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Shoaib Malik (capt, 01/02/1982)

Appointed captain in the wake of Pakistan's dreadful World Cup campaign, Malik has already led the team to a series win over World Cup finalists Sri Lanka and has declared that his men can go unbeaten in South Africa and claim the Twenty20 crown.

Shahid Afridi (01/03/1980)

Hard-hitting all-rounder with the tendency to be brilliantly destructive or destructively abysmal. His maiden one-day international innings yielded the fastest century recorded, off just 37 balls. He uses variety well with his leg-spinners.

Kamran Akmal (wkt, 13/01/1982)

Made his first-class debut at the age of 15 and has not looked back since. Is equally adept with the bat as he is behind the stumps and holds the record for the fastest Test hundred, which he achieved against India in 2006.

Fawad Alam (08/10/1985)

Made his first-class debut at the age of 17. He is a former captain of the Pakistan Academy who received a call up to the senior ODI squad in May, where he fell to a first-ball duck against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi. Nevertheless, selectors kept the faith in the all-rounder by naming him in the squad to tour Scotland in July.

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Iftikhar Anjum (01/12/1980)

Swing bowler who forms part of an impressive battery of back-up seamers to the likes of Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif. Continually impressive on the domestic circuit and has taken his chances at international level when they have come along.

Yasir Arafat (12/03/1982)

Another all-rounder who has played well in the handful of ODI matches he has contested, but who could shine in Tests if called upon. Only 25 but made his ODI debut against Sri Lanka as far back as 2000. Experienced at Twenty20 level, having played in 27 matches, claiming 34 wickets and 230 runs at an average of 16.42.

Mohammad Asif (20/12/1982)

Took 10 wickets in a warm-up game against England in 2005 to force himself into the international reckoning. Tested positive for nandrolone in 2006 before having his ban overturned. Dropped from the World Cup squad at the 11th hour with an apparent elbow injury but returned to the side as vice-captain for Pakistan's tour to Abu Dhabi.

Salman Butt (07/10/1984)

Confident left-handed batsman who made his Test debut against Bangladesh in 2003. Showed his short-form prowess with a ODI century against India in 2004 before repeating the feat against the same opponents the following year. Not picked for the World Cup, but has since stormed back into the reckoning and was named vice-captain in June.

Umar Gul (15/10/1982)

Another of Pakistan's pacemen, and a combination of height and the ability to move the ball both ways off the seam have earned him much praise. Has played eight Twenty20 matches, claiming 13 wickets with best figures of 4-21.

Mohammad Hafeez (17/10/1980)

An opening batsman and off-spin bowler who broke into the national team after the 2003 World Cup. Something of a fringe player, Hafeez has nevertheless shown enough promise in 10 Tests and 47 ODIs to remain very much a part of the Pakistan set-up.

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Younis Khan (29/11/1977)

One of Pakistan's most important middle-order batsmen, who plays with a mixture of flamboyance and determination. Turned down the captaincy after Inzamam-ul-Haq stood down after the World Cup, and after briefly making himself unavailable for selection was named in the squad for the tour to Scotland in July.

Imran Nazir (16/12/1981)

An aggressive opener who was tipped to shine in one-day cricket but who has performed well at Test level, hitting two hundreds and one fifty in eight outings. A fine 160 against Zimbabwe in the World Cup proved that Nazir could shine in the shorter forms of the game. Awarded a central contract by the PCB in July 2007.

Abdur Rehman (01/03/1980)

All-rounder who made his debut for Pakistan against the West Indies at the age of 26. Has shone at domestic level and last season finished as the highest wicket-taker in the Pentangular Cup. Considered unlikely to make the grade at Test level, Rehman is hoping to become a regular for Pakistan in the shorter forms of the game.

Misbah-ul-Haq (28/05/1974)

Out of the Pakistan set-up for three years prior to this season, Misbah forced his way back into contention after a fine domestic campaign. The right-handed batsman was awarded a central contract earlier this year and was named in the Twenty20 squad at the expense of Mohammad Yousuf.

Sohail Tanvir (12/12/1984)

Called into the squad to replace Shoaib Akhtar, who was sent home for disciplinary reasons. Sohail bowls left-arm medium-fast off the wrong foot and bats lower down the order, although he has yet to translate his talent into performances of note in domestic Twenty20 cricket.