Pakistan Announces Squad for T20I Series Against New Zealand

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has revealed the final playing eleven for the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand.

The opening Twenty20 match is set to commence today at Eden Park in Auckland. Fans can expect the first ball to be delivered at 1110 PKT. This series marks a significant chapter in Pakistan’s cricket as left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi takes on his first role as captain, succeeding Babar Azam.

The opening duo for Pakistan will be Rizwan and Saim, with Babar Azam bolstering the middle order. Fakhar, Iftikhar, and Azam Khan are slated to follow at fourth, fifth, and sixth positions. Aamir and Usama will be batting at the seventh and eighth spots.

The last time Pakistan participated in T20Is was in April 2023, against New Zealand on their home ground. Mohammad Rizwan, now the vice-captain and wicketkeeper, emerged as the leading run-scorer, while right-arm pacer Haris Rauf was the most successful bowler in that series. Unfortunately, spinner Abrar Ahmed, originally in the squad, is ruled out due to an injury.

Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, expressing his thoughts in the pre-series press conference, emphasized the honour of leading the team and focusing on achieving results in major tournaments. He highlighted the importance of establishing a solid team combination and building a strong bench ahead of the World Cup later this year. The series against New Zealand will be crucial for testing and rotating younger talents to finalize the team’s combination.

Pakistan’s Squad:

Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Mohammad Rizwan (vice-captain, wicketkeeper), Aamir Jamal, Abbas Afridi (debutant), Azam Khan (wicketkeeper), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Saim Ayub, and Usama Mir (debutant).

The full T20 series schedule is as follows: