Fast bowler Mohammad Amir, all-rounder Imad Wasim, and newbies Usman Khan and Mohammad Irfan Khan Niazi got picked for Pakistan’s T20 squad against New Zealand. This squad of 17 members was announced by a fresh selection committee.
Naseem Shah, Shadab Khan, and Abrar Ahmed are also back after recovering from injuries during the Pakistan Super League held earlier.
The matches against New Zealand are set to happen in Rawalpindi and Lahore from April 18 to 27. The first three matches will be in Rawalpindi’s Pindi Cricket Stadium, while the last two will take place at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.
Some players who were part of Pakistan’s squad in New Zealand earlier this year, like Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan, didn’t make it to this series due to various reasons like fitness issues.
The selection committee, led by Wahab Riaz, made these choices with input from the team’s captain and head coach, Azhar Mahmood. They’re focusing on the World Cup, considering player workload and performance.
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Mohammad Amir and Imad, who recently withdrew their retirement decisions, are in the squad. This decision was made due to their availability and the circumstances, especially considering the absence of Haris and Mohammad Nawaz’s current form.
Imad has played 66 T20 internationals, scoring 486 runs and taking 65 wickets. Amir, on the other hand, has played 50 T20Is and taken 59 wickets.
Usman Khan’s selection came even though he was recently banned by the Emirates Cricket Board. Despite this, his consistent performance in the last PSL earned him a spot in the squad.
Irfan, awarded as the Emerging Player and Best Fielder in this year’s PSL, expressed his commitment to securing a permanent place in the team.
The selection of youngsters like Usman and Irfan is seen as inspirational for other aspiring cricketers.
The selectors emphasized the importance of this series in preparing for the T20 World Cup in June. They mentioned a rotation policy to keep players fresh and fit for the upcoming challenges.
The squad includes experienced players like Babar Azam, who recently regained the T20 captaincy. The selectors and team management aim to strengthen the team’s performance and identify areas for improvement during this series.
Overall, the selected players and reserves will form the core group leading up to the World Cup, with a focus on unity and performance.
Full quad: Babar Azam (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Irfan Khan Niazi, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usama Mir, Usman Khan, Zaman Khan.