Pakistan has dropped former captains Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam from the T20 squad for the series against New Zealand, appointing Salman Ali Agha as the new captain. Rizwan retains his captaincy for the ODI series, including changes to the squad after the Champions Trophy. Interim head coach Aaqib Javed calls for an aggressive T20 playing style, bringing in uncapped players to enhance performance.
Pakistan’s cricket team has undergone a significant change as former captains Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have been dropped from the T20 squad for the upcoming series against New Zealand, which commences on March 16. Salman Ali Agha will take on the role of captain, supported by all-rounder Shadab Khan as vice-captain. Agha recently led Pakistan to a victory in a T20 series against Zimbabwe, strengthening his leadership credentials.
While Mohammad Rizwan retains his position as captain for the one-day internationals (ODIs) against New Zealand, beginning March 29, he is joined by Babar Azam in the ODI squad. However, following a disappointing early exit from the Champions Trophy, changes have been made to the ODI roster as well, with fresh players earning their spots.
In the T20 squad, fast bowlers Haris Rauf and Shaheen Shah Afridi have been included, although they have been excluded from the ODI selection. The selectors have also omitted top-order batsmen Kamran Ghulam and Saud Shakeel while recalling opener Abdullah Shafique, who had been overlooked for the Champions Trophy after a challenging performance in South Africa.
Interim head coach Aaqib Javed emphasized the team’s need to adopt a more aggressive playing style in T20 cricket, stating, “We need to play fearless and aggressive cricket in the T20 format and that’s why we have brought in new players.” He highlighted the importance of players who can capitalize on the batting powerplay effectively.
Several uncapped players, including Abdul Samad, Hasan Nawaz, and Mohammad Ali, have been included in the T20 lineup. Samad has demonstrated impressive form in domestic tournaments, while Nawaz greatly contributed with his scoring during the T20 Champions Cup. Ali has also made a mark with his exceptional bowling statistics in the same cup.
The recent changes to Pakistan’s cricket squads showcase an effort to revitalize the team’s performance in T20 and ODI formats following disappointing outcomes in recent competitions. The introduction of new talents and strategic leadership adjustments are crucial elements aimed at redefining the team’s competitive edge. As the series against New Zealand approaches, all eyes will be on the new captaincy and the performance of fresh faces in the squad.
Original Source: www.aljazeera.com
