Pakistan has dropped captain Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam from the T20I squad for the series in New Zealand, appointing Salman Agha as the new captain. Shadab Khan returns as vice-captain. Rizwan retains his leadership in ODIs, while Shaheen Afridi is omitted. The team aims to revitalize its performance after recent setbacks at the Champions Trophy.
Pakistan’s cricket team has undergone significant changes for the upcoming T20I series in New Zealand. Both captain Mohammad Rizwan and star player Babar Azam have been dropped from the squad as part of a strategy to find a more effective T20I lineup. Salman Agha has been appointed as the new T20I captain, and Shadab Khan returns as the vice-captain.
The announcement follows a disappointing outcome in the recent home Champions Trophy, leading to the inclusion of several new faces in the squad. Mohammad Haris makes a return after a prolonged absence, while Saim Ayub remains sidelined due to an ankle injury from South Africa. Other notable inclusions are young wicketkeeper Hasan Nawaz and the emerging batter Abdul Samad, following commendable performances in domestic T20 tournaments.
The bowling lineup remains largely intact, with both Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf retained. However, Shah is no longer part of the T20I setup, while spinners Sufiyaan Muqeem and Abrar Ahmed hold onto their spots, along with the addition of Khushdil Shah. Rizwan’s tenure as T20I captain concludes after leading Pakistan in five matches, all of which ended in defeat.
Babar Azam’s exclusion signifies Pakistan’s intent to redefine their opening batting strategy, as critics have expressed concerns over the Babar-Rizwan partnership being overly cautious in T20Is. Contrastingly, Rizwan will continue as captain for the ODI format, where he remains a pivotal figure. The ODI squad sees fewer modifications, with the sole omission being Afridi, Pakistan’s top bowler during recent successful series.
The Pakistani team is set to engage in five T20I matches starting March 16, followed by a three-match ODI series. The finalized squads showcase a blend of experience and promising talent as Pakistan aims to revitalize their cricketing prospects in New Zealand.
T20I Squad: 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, Usman Khan. ODI Squad: 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, Tayyab Tahir.
In summary, the Pakistani cricket team is undergoing significant transitions with key players dropped from the T20I squad in light of recent performances. Salman Agha’s leadership and the reintroduction of Shadab Khan signal a strategic shift as the team seeks to enhance its competitive edge. While the ODI setup remains stable with Rizwan at the helm, the upcoming matches in New Zealand are crucial for reestablishing Pakistan’s cricketing strengths.
Original Source: www.espncricinfo.com
