Pakistan Cricket Board(PCB) has announced a fifteen-member squad for the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan in Sharjah. While Shadab will lead almost new teammates in the series against Afghanistan.
Squad: Shadab Khan (C), Abdullah Shafique, Azam Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Ihsanullah, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood, Tayyab Tahir, Zaman Khan.
Reserves: Haseebullah, Usama Mir, Abrar Ahmed
All-rounder Shadab Khan will lead the national team in place of the current captain, Babar Azam, who will be rested for the series.
On Sunday PCB Management Committee chairman, Najam Sethi contacted Babar, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Afridi, and Fakhar Zaman and notified them that they will be given rest. While Haris Rauf has also been rested to handle his workload.
PCB is concerned about the workload of players. Hence, the board considers this a critical decision keeping the future in mind, specifically the T20 World Cup in 2024.
I want to congratulate Shadab Khan on his appointment as the Pakistan team captain for the series against Afghanistan. Shadab Khan has been the Pakistan vice-captain in white-ball cricket for the past couple of years and, logically, he takes over the side in the absence of Babar Azam for the short three-match T20I tour of Sharjah.
For the short Sharjah tour and to ensure continuity, we have also appointed Mohammad Yousuf as the interim head and batting coach. Yousuf has been with the national side since last year as a batting coach and has also been working in the National High Performance Centre.”
Najam Sethi-Chairman of PCB Management Committee
The series will start on March 24, while the last two games to be played on March 26 and 27 in Sharjah, UAE.
