All-rounder Shadab Khan will lead the national cricket team for the upcoming T20 series against Afghanistan, as captain Babar Azam has been given a short break to ‘strategically manage his workload’.
Talking to the media, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Management Committee Chairman Najam Sethi said that along with Babar Azam, wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan, fast bowler Shaheen Afridi and Fakhar Zaman will be rested for the short three-match tour.
“I would like to congratulate Shadab Khan on being named the captain of the Pakistan team for the series against Afghanistan,” Najam Sethi said, adding that Khan has been Pakistan’s vice-captain in white-ball cricket for the past few years and It is logical that he will take over the team in Babar Azam’s absence.
He added: “We have also appointed Mohammad Yousuf as interim head and batting coach to ensure continuity and continuity for the short tour of Sharjah. Yusuf has been with the national team since last year as a batting coach and is also working at the National High Performance Centre.
Shadab Khan will captain the team that includes Ehsanullah, Saeem Ayub, Tayyab Tahir and Zaman Khan, while Abdullah Shafiq, Azam Khan, Faheem Ashraf and Imad Wasim have been recalled.
Selection committee chairman Haroon Rasheed said: “Babar, Fakhar, Haris, Rizwan and Shaheen have been given a break from the short Sharjah tour to take time away from competitive cricket to complete their rehabilitation, regroup, regroup. . And recharge your batteries and be fully fit for the challenges in the tough and challenging season of 2023-24.
Apart from Shadab, the players retained from the last T20I series are: Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Naseem Shah and Shaan Masood.
The Pakistan Cricket Selectors have announced a new-look and highly talented 15-man squad for the series against Afghanistan from March 24 to 27 in Sharjah.
Pakistan squad
Shadab Khan, Abdullah Shafique, Azam Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Ehsanullah, Imad Wasim, Muhammad Haris, Muhammad Nawaz, Muhammad Wasim Jr., Naseem Shah, Saeem Ayub, Shan Masood, Tayyab Tahir, Zaman Khan.
