ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday announced the squad for the upcoming T20 series against New Zealand, which is scheduled to take place in January next year. PCB also shared the squad on its social media handle.
Pakistan name 17-member squad for New Zealand T20I series
Details here ➡️ https://t.co/isKqXMLBca#NZvPAK
— PCB Media (@TheRealPCBMedia) December 19, 2023
Speedster Shaheen Afridi would lead the T20I side for the first time after batting maestro Babar Azam stepped aside as skipper recently. Out of form, Shadab Khan and in-form Muhammad Haris were dropped from the squad, while Azam Khan made his return along with some other young faces.
The 17-member squad comprises youngsters like Abbas Afridi, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, and Haseebullah Khan, along with experienced names including Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, and Mohammad Rizwan.
Earlier on Tuesday, while addressing a press conference, Chief Selector Wahab Riaz said that Khushdil Shah, Asif Ali, Haider Ali, Shoaib Malik, and Faheem Ashraf were awarded a number of chances, but they couldn’t create a decisive impact, it was reason the selection committee opted for some new faces.
Regarding the induction of Haseebullah, the chief selector said that he played some impactful innings in the PSL in the middle order and also played well in white-ball cricket. About the exclusion of wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Haris, he responded that he knew the ability of Haris and that he would be part of the team in the future, adding that, however, there were some domestic performers in First Class cricket who we wanted to give a chance and to strengthen our bench.
On Shadab Khan. Wahab Riaz said that no doubt the leg spinner was a very crucial member of Pakistan T20 cricket. However, he suffered an ankle injury [during the National T20] and needed two more weeks to recover.
The Pakistan cricket team would leave for New Zealand after completing the tour in Australia on January 7.
Pakistan Cricket Team Squad
Shaheen Afridi (c), Aamir Jamal, Abbas Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan (wk), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Haseebullah (wk), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Junior, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Usama Mir, and Zaman Khan.
Pakistan’s Tour Schedule
First match: New Zealand vs Pakistan, 12 January, Auckland
Second match: New Zealand vs Pakistan, 14 January, Hamilton
Third match: New Zealand vs Pakistan, 17 January, Dunedin
Fourth match: New Zealand vs Pakistan, 19 January, Christchurch
Fifth match: New Zealand vs Pakistan, 21 January, Christchurch.
