Pakistan has dropped captain Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam from its T20 squad against New Zealand. Salman Ali Agha will lead the team, with Shadab Khan as vice-captain. Changes follow an underwhelming Champions Trophy performance. Players like Abdul Samad and Hasan Nawaz have been included, reflecting a focus on adopting an aggressive playing style.
Pakistan has made significant changes to its T20 squad ahead of the upcoming series against New Zealand, dropping captain Mohammad Rizwan and renowned batsman Babar Azam. The five-match series is set to commence on March 16. Salman Ali Agha has been appointed as the new captain with Shadab Khan serving as vice-captain, following Agha’s success in leading the team to a 2-1 series victory against Zimbabwe last year.
Rizwan will maintain his role as captain for the three One Day Internationals (ODIs) against New Zealand that begin on March 29, during which Babar Azam will also be included in the squad. Following Pakistan’s disappointing early exit from the ICC Champions Trophy, where they only secured one victory against Zimbabwe, selectors have initiated a major overhaul of both the T20 and ODI teams.
Among those retained for the T20 matches are fast bowlers Haris Rauf and Shaheen Shah Afridi, although they have been omitted from the ODI team. In contrast, openers Kamran Ghulam and Saud Shakeel have been dropped. Abdullah Shafique has been recalled to the T20 squad after being overlooked for the Champions Trophy, where his form in recent matches raised concerns.
In a statement to the press, Pakistan’s interim head coach Aaqib Javed emphasized the need for a dynamic batting approach in T20 cricket, highlighting, “We need to play fearless and aggressive cricket in the T20 format.” He noted the importance of selecting new entrants to the team who can leverage early batting powerplays.
The T20 squad features three uncapped players: Abdul Samad, Hasan Nawaz, and Mohammad Ali, all of whom have demonstrated considerable potential in domestic competitions. Samad achieved a remarkable strike rate in the domestic T20 Champions Cup, while Nawaz and Ali topped their respective charts in batting and bowling.
In summary, Pakistan’s cricket team has strategically restructured its T20 squad for the upcoming series against New Zealand, aiming to infuse fresh talent and adopt a more aggressive playing style. The changes reflect a response to prior performances in international tournaments and are geared towards better outcomes in forthcoming competitions. The interim head coach’s commitment to a new approach reinforces Pakistan’s ambition to enhance its formidable presence in T20 cricket.
Original Source: apnews.com
