For the upcoming five match T20I series in New Zealand, Pakistan have made major changes to their squad, and have omitted both the captain, Mohammad Rizwan, and star batter Babar Azam. This is the first squad announcement since they exited the Champions Trophy at home. Salman Agha, vice captain of Rizwan has been given the T20I captaincy while Shadab Khan has been brought back into the squad as vice captain. In ODIs, however, Rizwan keeps his leadership position and pacer Shaheen Afridi is missing, indicating that there is another change in team selection of Pakistan.
Pakistan Reshapes T20I Squad With Leadership And Squad Changes
Pakistan has reorganized its T20I team for the series against New Zealand, a change in leadership and batting approach. Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam are omitted and replaced by Salman Ali Agha as skipper and Shadab Khan as vice-captain. The bowling lineup remains the same for the most part, Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf, but without Naseem Shah. Spinners Sufiyaan Muqeem and Abrar Ahmed stay at their spots, joined by Khushdil Shah. Although Aaqib Javed did not make Rizwan’s departure as the T20I skipper official, his five-matches losing run indicates a permanent change.
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Pakistan’s ODI Squad Sees Minimal Changes, Shaheen Afridi Dropped
In comparison to the revolutionary T20I reshuffle, Pakistan’s ODI side has seen fewer changes, with the only glaring exception being Shaheen Afridi, who impressed in the ODI series victories against South Africa and Australia. Rizwan remains the ODI captain, with Babar being included in the team along with comeback opener Abdullah Shafique and left-arm spinner Sufiyaan Muqeem. Akif Javed receives his first-ever ODI call-up, bolstering Pakistan’s pace attack. The squad will host five T20Is in New Zealand from March 16, followed by three ODIs, in their bid to bounce back from their abysmal Champions Trophy performance.
