Pakistan has dropped captains Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan from the T20 squad for the series against New Zealand starting March 16, appointing Salman Ali Agha as captain. Rizwan retains the captaincy for ODIs set to begin on March 29, while the team aims to adopt a more aggressive playing style. The revised squads include several new domestic performers as the selectors aim for improvement following recent tournament setbacks.
Pakistan’s T20 squad for the upcoming series against New Zealand sees the omission of former captains Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam. The five-match series, commencing on March 16, will be led by Salman Ali Agha, with Shadab Khan serving as vice-captain. Salman previously piloted the team to success against Zimbabwe last year with a 2-1 series victory.
While Rizwan retains the captaincy for the ODI matches scheduled to begin on March 29, Babar has also been included in that squad. Following a disappointing exit from the Champions Trophy, where Pakistan placed fourth in their group after a washout against Bangladesh and losses to New Zealand and India, selectors have made significant changes.
The T20 squad includes fast bowlers Haris Rauf and Shaheen Shah Afridi, though they will not participate in the ODI matches. Top-order players Kamran Ghulam and Saud Shakeel have been dropped, while opener Abdullah Shafique has been recalled after being overlooked for the Champions Trophy due to prior poor performances.
In comments regarding the team’s direction, Pakistan’s interim head coach Aaqib Javed stated, “We need to play fearless and aggressive cricket in the T20 format and that’s why we have brought in new players.” His contract with the team has been extended beyond the Champions Trophy as the Pakistan Cricket Board continues its search for a full-time head coach.
The T20 squad comprises of newly inducted players such as Abdul Samad and Hasan Nawaz, along with fast bowler Mohammad Ali, who are yet to make their international debuts. Samad impressed in the domestic T20 Champions Cup with 115 runs at a strike-rate of 166.67, while Nawaz was the second-highest run-scorer with 312 runs. Ali excelled by topping the bowling charts in that tournament with 22 wickets.
The formations for the T20 and ODI squads have been announced, emphasizing a shift in strategy aimed at enhancing performance in international cricket.
In summary, Pakistan’s squad changes reflect a strategic revamp after disappointing outcomes at the Champions Trophy. With former captains Rizwan and Babar omitted from the T20 series, fresh talent is introduced under the leadership of Salman Ali Agha. The team aims to embrace a more aggressive approach in T20 cricket while Rizwan continues as ODI captain against New Zealand. Massive expectations are placed on the new talents to enhance Pakistan’s cricketing prospects.
Original Source: www.aljazeera.com
