Pakistan’s Cricket Team Squads Announced for Australia and Zimbabwe Tours with Key Changes
The PCB has announced Pakistan’s squads for the tours to Australia and Zimbabwe, reinstating Babar Azam while omitting Shadab Khan and Fakhar Zaman. Babar will play against Australia but not travel to Zimbabwe. The new white-ball captain remains unannounced, with a press conference set for Sunday.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has unveiled the national squads for the upcoming tours to Australia and Zimbabwe, following a much-anticipated announcement on Saturday. Notably, Babar Azam, the erstwhile captain who recently stepped down, has been reinstated in the One Day International (ODI) and T20I teams for the series against Australia, despite his omission from the squad for the concluding two Test matches against England. Pakistan’s tour of Australia will commence on November 4, where they are set to play three ODIs and three T20Is. Subsequently, the team will head to Zimbabwe for a series of six limited-overs matches starting on November 24. The PCB has made significant changes to their previous squad line-up, with prominent players including Shadab Khan and Fakhar Zaman being excluded from both tours. Curiously, the PCB has not appointed a new captain for the white-ball formats at this time, with PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi scheduled to announce the new captain during a press conference in Lahore on Sunday at 3:30 PM local time (4:30 PM IST). In a statement, the PCB noted, “Babar Azam, Naseem Shah, and Shaheen Shah Afridi, who were granted rest during the last two Tests against England, will be returning for the matches in Australia but will not participate in the tour to Zimbabwe.” Additionally, it was mentioned that Mohammad Rizwan will partake in the Australia matches along with the ODI series in Zimbabwe but will not be available for the T20I segment in Zimbabwe. The squads have been confirmed as follows: Pakistan ODI Squad for Australia: Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, and Shaheen Shah Afridi. Pakistan T20I Squad for Australia: Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Omair Bin Yousuf, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, and Usman Khan. Pakistan ODI Squad for Zimbabwe: Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Muhammad Irfan Khan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shahnawaz Dahani, and Tayyab Tahir. Pakistan T20I Squad for Zimbabwe: Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair bin Yousuf, Qasim Akram, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir, and Usman Khan.
The announcement by the PCB regarding the national squads for the forthcoming tours to Australia and Zimbabwe comes amid significant changes in team selections. Babar Azam, after a recent resignation, has been reinstated, highlighting the fluctuating leadership dynamics within the team. The decisions made by the PCB reflect a strategic shift in preparation for upcoming tournaments and the need to foster a robust team strategy against international opposition. Moreover, the absence of renowned players like Shadab Khan and Fakhar Zaman marks a critical turning point in the squad composition as the team looks to rejuvenate its performance across formats.
In summary, the PCB has announced critical squad updates for the tours to Australia and Zimbabwe, reinstating Babar Azam while not appointing a new captain. The selection choices indicate a strategic revamp with key players missing from the roster as Pakistan gears up for international challenges. The upcoming media conference is expected to shed light on the leadership structure within the team as they prepare for the competitive matches ahead.
Original Source: www.indiatvnews.com
