Pakistan drop captain Rizwan and Babar in T20Is, Shaheen from ODIs for NZ series
Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, file photo
This is the first squad announcement following Pakistan’s disappointing Champions Trophy campaign on home soil, and it includes several significant changes. Shadab Khan returns to the squad and has been named vice-captain, while Salman Agha has been appointed T20I captain, taking over from Rizwan.
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However, in ODIs, Rizwan will retain his captaincy, but Shaheen Afridi has been dropped from the squad.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed that Mohammad Haris has been recalled after a long absence, while Saim Ayub remains sidelined due to an ankle injury sustained in South Africa.
Two uncapped players have been included: 22-year-old wicketkeeper Hasan Nawaz, who has played just 21 T20 matches and is yet to feature in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), and big-hitting batter Abdul Samad (27), who earned his call-up following an impressive domestic T20 performance.
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Pakistan play five T20Is in New Zealand starting March 16, followed by three ODIs.
Pakistan T20I squad: Hasan Nawaz, Omair Yousuf, Mohammad Haris, Abdul Samad, Salman Agha (capt), Irfan Niazi, Khushdil Shah, Shadab Khan, Abbas Afridi, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Sufiyaan Muqeem, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Khan
Pakistan ODI squad: Mohammad Rizwan (capt), Salman Agha, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Akif Javed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Irfan Niazi, Naseem Shah, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir.
