Pakistan on Saturday left out veteran batsman Mohammad Hafeez for next week's series start against Sri Lanka, who are touring the country for the first time since they were targeted in a terror attack.

Hafeez, 38, was part of Pakistan's fifth-placed World Cup squad but has been kept off due to his commitments in the Caribbean Premier League, said head coach and chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq.

"He is not out of our plans," added Misbah. "Whoever is effective for the team will be included in the future."

Fellow World Cup team members Hasan Ali and fast bowler Shaheen Afridi have also been left out due to poor fitness.

Sarfaraz Ahmed will lead the team in both the ODI and T20I matches. 

Read: Pakistan retain Sarfaraz Ahmed as skipper for Sri Lanka series

Middle order batsman Iftikhar Ahmed was recalled to the ODI squad after a four-year absence.

Cricket tours were suspended in Pakistan for six years after a 2009 assault on the Sri Lankan team bus that killed half a dozen police officers and wounded six members of the visiting team.

Sri Lanka agreed to the current tour after a favorable security assessment.

Read: Sri Lanka to go ahead with Pakistan tour despite terror fears

Three one-day internationals will be played in Karachi, the first on September 27.

Another three T20I matches will be played in Lahore in early October.

Squad: Sarfaraz Ahmed, Babar Azam, Abid Ali, Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Haris Sohail, Mohammad Hasnain, Iftikhar Ali, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Usman Shinwari, Wahab Riaz 

Read: Sri Lanka name depleted squads for Pakistan tour

Feature Image Courtesy: AFP/ Arif Ali

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