Sports Desk
Christchurch: Pakistan has announced an 18-player men’s national squad for the three T20Is against New Zealand to be played on 18, 20, and 22 December.
The team management has recalled former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed and all-rounder Hussain Talat in the only changes from the side that defeated Zimbabwe 3-0 last month.
Hussain, who has replaced Pakistan Shaheens’ Zafar Gohar, played his last T20I against South Africa at Centurion in February 2019, while Sarfaraz has reclaimed his spot from Rohail Nazir, who will captain Pakistan Shaheens against New Zealand ‘A’.
The squad was finalised by head coach Misbah-ul-Haq and captain Babar Azam in consultation with Pakistan Shaheens coach Ijaz Ahmed, who also named his 16-player squad for the four-day match against New Zealand ‘A’ to be played in Whangarei from 17 December.
Both Pakistan and Pakistan Shaheens squads are scheduled to depart for Queenstown on Tuesday, 8 December, after completing their 14-day isolation period in Christchurch. In Queenstown, both sides will stay in different hotels and train at different times and according to their match requirements.
On 14 December, Shaheens will travel to Whangarei, while Pakistan will head to Auckland on 15 December for the opening match of the three-match series.
Imad Wasim will depart for Australia on 23 December to play in Australia’s Big Bash League, while Mohammad Hafeez will leave for Pakistan on 24 December after the conclusion of the T20I series.
On the other hand, the Pakistan red-ball format players who will not be involved in the T20Is will remain with Pakistan Shaheens to prepare for the two-Test series, which starts at the Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, on 26 December.
Pakistan squad for New Zealand T20Is:
Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Abdullah Shafique, Faheem Ashraf, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Hussain Talat, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Musa Khan, Mohammad Rizwan, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Qadir and Wahab Riaz.
Pakistan Shaheens for New Zealand ‘A’ four-day match:
Rohail Nazir (captain), Abid Ali, Amad Butt, Azhar Ali, Danish Aziz, Fawad Alam, Haris Sohail, Imam-ul-Haq, Imran Butt, Mohammad Abbas, Naseem Shah, Shan Masood, Sohail Khan, Yasir Shah, Zafar Gohar and Zeeshan Malik.
