On Tuesday, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) revealed a 17-player squad for the T20I series against New Zealand in January.
Shaheen Shah Afridi will lead the team for the first time. This series marks the beginning of Pakistan’s preparation for the ICC T20 World Cup in June 2024. Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Haseebullah, and Usama Mir earned their first call-up to the T20I team for their outstanding performances in the domestic season.
Sahibzada Farhan, who debuted in T20I for Pakistan in 2018, has also rejoined the squad after showcasing his batting skills in the National T20 Cup 2023-24.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced that newcomers Abrar Ahmed and Azam Khan, along with six pace bowlers Aamir Jamal, Zaman Khan, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Abbas Afridi, and captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, have been selected for the T20I series against New Zealand. Injuries ruled out Naseem Shah, Ihsanullah, and Shadab Khan, while Shan Masood, Mohammad Haris, and Faheem Ashraf were omitted.
The five-match T20I series will take place from January 12 to January 21, immediately following Pakistan’s Test tour of Australia. PCB Chief Selector Wahab Riaz emphasized the importance of nurturing young talent, stating that rested players like Mohammad Haris and Shan Masood remain part of Pakistan’s future plans.
The full squad includes Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Aamir Jamal, Abbas Afridi, Azam Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Usama Mir, and Zaman Khan.