Pakistan’s Expected ODI and T20 Squads For New Zealand Tour
KARACHI: Pakistan are set to make significant changes to their squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand, which includes resting senior players and appointing a new captain, sources informed on Monday.
As per details, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has completed its consultation process regarding the selection of the national men’s white-ball squads for the New Zealand tour, scheduled from March 16 to April 5.
Sources further revealed that former pacer Aqib Javed is expected to continue as the interim head coach, as the board has not yet initiated the recruitment process due to time constraints.
Meanwhile, former Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf is likely to replace Shahid Aslam as the batting coach, whereas Azhar Mahmood and Muhammad Masroor are expected to retain their positions as the bowling and fielding coaches, respectively.
Mohammad Rizwan, Pakistan’s white-ball captain, will lead the ODI squad, which is expected to see only minor adjustments.
However, the T20I squad is set for a major revamp, with the PCB planning to provide opportunities to young and domestic performers by resting senior players, including Rizwan, star batter Babar Azam, vice-captain Salman Ali Agha, and pacer Naseem Shah.
As a result, all-rounder Shadab Khan—who last played for Pakistan in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup against Ireland in June last year—is likely to captain the team in the five-match series against New Zealand.
Pakistan’s Probable Squad for the T20I Series Against New Zealand:
Shadab Khan (c)
Mohammad Haris
Sufiyan Muqeem
Muhammad Irfan Khan
Shaheen Shah Afridi
Abbas Afridi
Jahandad Khan
Abrar Ahmed
Omair Bin Yousuf
Khushdil Shah
Hassan Nawaz
Abdul Samad
Haris Rauf
Usman Khan
Hussain Talat
Mohammad Ali
Pakistan’s Probable ODI Squad for the New Zealand Tour:
Salman Ali Agha
Mohammad Rizwan
Babar Azam
Imam-ul-Haq
Abdullah Shafique
Tayyab Tahir
Irfan Khan
Khushdil Shah
Mohammad Wasim
Naseem Shah
Akif Javed
Mohammad Ali
Abrar Ahmed
Sufyan Muqeem
Faheem Ashraf
