Pakistan has reshuffled its T20I squad, dropping Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan ahead of the New Zealand series. Salman Agha will lead the T20Is with Shadab Khan as vice-captain, while Rizwan retains ODI captaincy. Shaheen Afridi is notably absent from the ODI squad. The changes follow Pakistan’s disappointing performance in the Champions Trophy, aiming to enhance team synergy through new player dynamics.
Pakistan has announced a significant shake-up of its T20I squad ahead of the upcoming five-match series in New Zealand, dropping both captain Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam. This latest adjustment comes in response to Pakistan’s disappointing performance in the recent home Champions Trophy. Salman Agha has been appointed as the T20I captain, with Shadab Khan returning as vice-captain. Rizwan, however, will maintain his position as captain for the ODI series, while Shaheen Afridi has been excluded from the ODI lineup.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has released details of the new squad, which sees Mohammad Haris returning after an extended absence. Meanwhile, Saim Ayub has been ruled out due to an ankle injury incurred in South Africa. The roster includes 22-year-old wicketkeeper Hasan Nawaz, along with Abdul Samad, who joins after an impressive domestic T20 performance. Quetta Gladiators player Omair Yousuf also receives a call-up as the selections move away from seasoned players in the T20 format.
Notably, the bowling lineup features fewer changes, resembling that of the recent T20I series in South Africa. Both Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf are retained, while Naseem Shah is excluded from the squad. Spinners Sufiyaan Muqeem and Abrar Ahmed maintain their positions, and Khushdil Shah has been added to the bowling contingent. Rizwan’s brief tenure as T20I captain concludes after leading the team to five consecutive losses, and he had missed the three T20Is in Zimbabwe where Agha guided the team to victory.
The decision to drop Babar Azam signifies a shift away from the longstanding partnership between Babar and Rizwan at the top of the batting order, a combination that has received mixed reviews since its inception in 2020. Critics have accused the pair of being overly cautious in their batting style. Concurrently, the ODI squad undergoes fewer transformations, primarily due to Afridi’s exclusion, despite his status as Pakistan’s leading bowler in recent ODI victories. Rizwan continues as ODI captain, with Babar included in the squad, alongside the return of Abdullah Shafique.
The T20I series in New Zealand commences on March 16, followed by a three-match ODI series. The newly announced T20I squad consists of Hasan Nawaz, Omair Yousuf, Mohammad Haris, Abdul Samad, Salman Agha (captain), Irfan Niazi, Khushdil Shah, Shadab Khan, Abbas Afridi, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Sufiyaan Muqeem, Abrar Ahmed, and Usman Khan. Meanwhile, the ODI squad comprises Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Agha, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Akif Javed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Irfan Niazi, Naseem Shah, Sufiyan Muqeem, and Tayyab Tahir.
In summary, Pakistan’s national cricket team has undergone substantial changes ahead of their series in New Zealand, opting to relieve Rizwan and Babar from T20I responsibilities while maintaining Rizwan’s ODI captaincy. This tactical overhaul reflects the team’s desire for fresh dynamics following recent subpar performances. The selections emphasize a balance of youth and returning players, setting the stage for a pivotal series in both formats.
Original Source: www.espncricinfo.com
