Pakistan cricket board announced the 16-member squad for the upcoming three-match ODIs series against New Zealand. Pakistan’s interim selection committee chief Shahid Afridi picked some uncapped players in the squad, and some experienced ones are also in the squad.
Veteran opening batter Fakhar Zaman has all set to make his comeback from injury; however, Haris Sohail has also been picked in the squad after 2.5 years for the upcoming series. He played his last ODI match for Pakistan in 2020.
There are three uncapped players have been selected for the squad. Tayyab Tahir is one of the uncapped players, and his domestic career is overwhelming, with an elegant average of 43.95 in 49 matches. His list A career laced with three hundred and 15 fifties. Another uncapped player Usama Mir has also been named in the 16-member squad. Kamran Ghulam, who was recently picked in the Test squad, also called for the ODI.
Shadab Khan’s absence is a major blow for the green army because he injured his finger in the big bash league. Shaheen Shah Afridi isn’t picked for the squad because PCB wants him full-time for recovery.
This updated 16-member squad was released by PCB interim chief selectors announced and talking to the media; he talked to every player before finalizing this squad.
“I spoke to Shadab this morning; he wasn’t feeling comfortable due to finger injury, that’s why he is not selected for the series against New Zealand,” said interim chairman of selectors Shahid Afridi. We asked Babar and Saqlain to give their choice of 16 before finalizing this squad, where we felt things could improve, we discuss these issues,” Afridi said.
Further, he concluded that looking at the future of the Pakistan cricket team, my responsibility is really important. This squad is selected keeping the future in mind and not only for the New Zealand series.
“It was an important responsibility for me, there is no shortage of talent in Pakistan, and it made me feel good. I am here for a limited time, but important was to keep Pakistan’s future in mind. Our mandate was to name squads for series against New Zealand only, but we have made choices keeping the future in mind. We have also given importance to performances in domestic cricket,” he concluded.
Pakistan’s Squad: Babar Azam (c), Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haris Sohail, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Salman Agha, Shahnawaz Dahani, Shan Masood, Tayyab Tahir, Usama Mir
New Zealand Squad:- Kane Williamson (Captain), Tom Latham, Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Blair Tickner, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Henry Shipley, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee
1st ODI :- 9th January in Karachi.
2nd ODI :- 11th January in Karachi.
3rd ODI :- 13th January in Karachi.
