All-rounder Shahid Afridi will lead Pakistan side in third ODI against New Zealand today to be played in Sharjah.
It should be mentioned here that Pakistan recalled leg-spinner Yasir Shah and all-rounder Awar Ali for the three remaining one-day internationals against New Zealand as they continued to sweat over skipper Misbah-ul Haq’s injury.
Pakistan went down by four wickets in the second one-day in Sharjah on Friday, a game in which Misbah hurt his hamstring leaving him doubtful for the third game, also in Sharjah on Sunday.
Fast bowlers Umar Gul (ankle) and Bilawal Bhatti (hand injury) were also sidelined and are returning home.
Chief selector Moin Khan said Misbah had undergone a MRI on his injury.
“Misbah has gone through an MRI scan on his hamstring injury and has been retained until his medical report comes,” said Khan.
“Gul and Bhatti have been dropped owing to fitness issues, while all-rounder Ali and leg-spinner Shah have been included,” said Khan.
Shah took 27 wickets in the five Tests which Pakistan played — two against Australia and three against New Zealand — since October this year.
The 28-year-old has played a single one-day international, against Zimbabwe in Harare in September 2011.
“Despite fitness issues dogging many key players, it still remains a pretty strong side. And I am positive that it would perform to its potential in the three remaining ODI games,” said Khan.
The fourth and fifth matches will be played in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday and Friday.
The series is currently tied at 1-1, with Pakistan winning the first match by three wickets in Dubai.
One-day squad: Misbah-ul-Haq (captain, Ahmed Shehzad, Anwar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Mohammad Hafeez, Haris Sohail, Mohammad Irfan, Nasir Jamshed, Sarfraz Ahmad, Shahid Afridi, Sohail Tanvir, Umar Akmal, Wahab Riaz, Yasir Shah, Younis Khan, Zulfiqar Babar. (AFP)
