The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday introduced a 15-member squad for a three-match T20 collection in opposition to Afghanistan with all-rounder Shadab Khan picked to steer the aspect within the absence of full-time skipper Babar Azam, who has been rested.
PCB Managing Committee head Najam Sethi and Chief Selector Haroon Rashid made the announcement, saying that the squad was finalised maintaining in view the crew’s future plans.
Squad
- Shadab Khan (captain)
- Abdullah Shafique
- Azam Khan
- Faheem Ashraf
- Iftikhar Ahmed
- Ihsanullah
- Imad Wasim
- Mohammad Haris
- Mohammad Nawaz
- Mohammad Wasim Junior
- Naseem Shah
- Saim Ayub
- Shan Masood
- Tayyab Tahir
- Zaman Khan
The three-match series will be played between March 24 and 27 in Sharjah.
Afghanistan have played Pakistan in three T20 Internationals and four ODIs in multi-national events — without any win so far — but this will be the first bilateral series between the two countries.
The newly-announced squad has four uncapped players, namely, Ihsanullah, Ayub, Tahir and Zaman.
According to the PCB statement, skipper Babar Azam, along with Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi have been rested. Asif Ali, Haider Ali, Mohammad Hasnain and Khushdil Shah also couldn’t make it to the final squad during the selection process.
It is pertinent to mention here that the aforementioned nine players were part of the Pakistan squad that qualified for the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 in opposition to England in Australia final 12 months.
In the meantime, Sethi congratulated Shadab on his new function.
“Shadab Khan has been the Pakistan vice-captain in white-ball cricket for the previous couple of years and it’s logical that he takes over the aspect within the absence of Babar Azam for the quick three-match T20I tour of Sharjah,” stated the PCB high-up.
He additionally confirmed to journalists that former nice Mohammad Yousuf had been retained as batting coach “to make sure continuity” within the upcoming collection.
Explaining the rationale behind the brand new picks, Haroon Rashid stated the board adopted the usual rotation coverage by resting the main performers and offering high-performing home performers with alternatives to reveal their expertise and potential on the worldwide stage.
“This may also permit us to check the temperament and talents of those gamers and assist us strengthen our pool of gamers as we stay up for constructing and making ready a formidable aspect for subsequent 12 months’s T20 World Cup within the West Indies and the USA,” he instructed a press briefing.
He insisted that the choice committee ensured that it chosen a aspect that was equally robust and able to successful the collection in opposition to a robust Afghanistan aspect.
He stated seven gamers had been retained from the final collection to make the squad balanced.
The chief selector stated Babar, Fakhar, Haris, Rizwan, and Shaheen had been “offered breaks” from the quick Sharjah collection to allow them to full their rehabilitation.
“This can assist them regroup, recompose and recharge their batteries and be totally match for the challenges within the robust and difficult 2023-24 season,” Rashid famous.
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