Pakistan Excludes Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan from T20 Squad against New Zealand
Pakistan has announced the exclusion of captain Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam from the T20 squad for the series against New Zealand, starting March 16. Salman Ali Agha will lead the T20 team, which has seen several domestic players rewarded for their performances. Rizwan retains his captaincy for the ODIs against New Zealand, which follow the T20 series.
In a surprising decision, the Pakistan cricket selectors have dropped captain Mohammad Rizwan and star batsman Babar Azam for the upcoming T20 series against New Zealand, commencing on March 16. This decision follows a disappointing performance in the ICC Champions Trophy, in which Pakistan exited the tournament in the group stages, losing against both New Zealand and India.
Salman Ali Agha has been appointed as the new captain for the T20 series, with all-rounder Shadab Khan serving as vice-captain. Agha previously led the team to a series victory against Zimbabwe, and this change aims to refresh the squad with emerging domestic talents.
Notably, Rizwan will remain the team captain for the three One Day Internationals (ODIs) against New Zealand starting March 29, and he will be joined by Babar Azam in the ODI squad. The selectors have made several adjustments due to the team’s recent underperformance, indicating a shift toward developing a more aggressive and fearless style of play in T20 matches.
The T20 squad includes uncapped players such as Abdul Samad, Hasan Nawaz, and fast bowler Mohammad Ali. Samad and Nawaz performed impressively in the domestic T20 Champions Cup, while Ali led the bowling charts. This strategic selection emphasizes the need for players capable of capitalizing on early scoring opportunities in T20 cricket.
The T20 squad has been finalized as follows: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Shadab Khan, Abbas Afridi, Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Hasan Nawaz, Irfan Khan, Jahandad Khan, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Haris, Omair Bin Yousaf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, and Usman Khan. The ODI squad continues to include key players like Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam.
The decision to drop Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan from the T20 squad against New Zealand marks a significant shift in Pakistan’s cricket strategy following disappointing results in the Champions Trophy. The selection of new talents under Salman Ali Agha’s leadership aims to foster a more aggressive approach in T20 play and rebuild the team for future successes. As Rizwan prepares to captain the ODI squad, the changes reflect a broader strategy aimed at revitalizing Pakistan cricket.
Original Source: apnews.com
