Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced a revamped 17-member squad led by captain Shaheen Shah Afridi on December 19 for the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand, starting on January 12.
The selectors introduced newcomers, including uncapped wicketkeeper-batter Haseebullah, pace all-rounder Abbas Afridi, and mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed for the first time in the T20I squad.
Test captain Shan Masood did not secure a spot on the team. The squad features three wicketkeeper-batters.
Last month, the PCB appointed Afridi as the new T20I captain, while Masood was given the Test captaincy. This decision was followed by Babar Azam's resignation from captaincy in all three formats after a dismal show in the World Cup 2023 in India.
The selectors brought back batters Sahabzada Farhan and Azam Khan into the squad following the exclusion of seasoned all-rounder Shadab Khan due to an ankle injury sustained during the recent National T20 Championship in Karachi.
The 27-year-old Farhan last played for Pakistan in a T20I match in late 2018, while Khan's last appearance was in 2023 against Afghanistan in Sharjah.
Pakistan's most recent T20I series was against New Zealand in April. For the upcoming series against New Zealand, all-rounder Faheem Ashraf and wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Haris, who were part of that squad, have been dropped.
Chief Selector Wahab Riaz, during the squad announcement, said that fast bowler Haris Rauf has been included in the touring side after opting out of the Test series in Australia.
“He was given NOC to play in the Big Bash for five matches and he will join the team from there,” he said.
Riaz said that young talents such as Saim Ayub, Haseebullah, Zaman Khan, Azam, Aamir Jamal, and Abbas, who have limited exposure in international cricket, will be assessed in New Zealand in view of next year’s T20 World Cup.
Pakistan T20I squad
Shaheen Shah Afridi (Capt), Aamir Jamal, Abbas Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Usama Mir and Zaman Khan.
(Powered by AI, Inputs by PTI)
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