In a major squad overhaul, Pakistan has dropped Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan ahead of the T20 series against New Zealand on March 16. Salman Ali Agha will captain, with Shadab Khan as vice-captain. Meanwhile, Rizwan retains ODI captaincy for the series beginning March 29, despite substantial changes following the team’s Champions Trophy exit. Several new players are being introduced to bolster the team’s strategy in T20 matches.
Pakistan has made significant changes to their T20 squad, dropping former captains Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan ahead of the series against New Zealand commencing on March 16. Salman Ali Agha is set to captain the side with Shadab Khan as vice-captain. Agha previously led the team to victory in a T20 series against Zimbabwe.
Despite these changes in the T20 format, Mohammad Rizwan has been retained as captain for the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand beginning on March 29, alongside Babar Azam. The selection committee has opted for fresh talent in response to Pakistan’s disappointing performance at the Champions Trophy, where they failed to advance past the group stage after losses to India and New Zealand.
The T20 squad features several uncapped players including Abdul Samad, Hasan Nawaz, and Mohammad Ali, reflecting the selectors’ focus on aggressive and fearless cricket as emphasized by interim head coach Aaqib Javed. He indicated the need for players capable of making significant contributions during the powerplay overs.
Pakistan’s squad includes notable players such as Haris Rauf and Shaheen Shah Afridi, although both fast bowlers have been excluded from the ODI lineup. New players have been enlisted to enhance the squad’s overall performance, with Javed’s aim for the team being high scores in T20 matches.
In the T20 squad are: 1) Salman Ali Agha (captain), 2) Shadab Khan, 3) Abbas Afridi, 4) Abdul Samad, 5) Abrar Ahmed, 6) Haris Rauf, 7) Hasan Nawaz, 8) Irfan Khan, 9) Jahandad Khan, 10) Khushdil Shah, 11) Mohammad Ali, 12) Mohammad Haris, 13) Omair Bin Yousaf, 14) Shaheen Shah Afridi, 15) Sufiyan Muqeem, and 16) Usman Khan.
The ODI squad includes: 1) Mohammad Rizwan (captain), 2) Salman Ali Agha, 3) Abdullah Shafique, 4) Abrar Ahmed, 5) Akif Javed, 6) Babar Azam, 7) Faheem Ashraf, 8) Imam-ul-Haq, 9) Irfan Khan, 10) Khushdil Shah, 11) Mohammad Ali, 12) Mohammad Wasim, 13) Naseem Shah, 14) Sufiyan Muqeem, and 15) Tayyab Tahir.
The Pakistan cricket team is undergoing a transformation as they prepare for the T20 series against New Zealand, with significant changes to their squad. The omission of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan marks a shift towards fresh talent, while interim head coach Aaqib Javed emphasizes the importance of aggressive gameplay. The squad includes several uncapped players and aims to improve performances following a disappointing Champions Trophy stint.
Original Source: www.aljazeera.com
