The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the squad for the upcoming white ball tour Zimbabwewhere the Men in Green will face the host nation in three ODIs and three T20Is. This tour is an important part of Pakistan’s preparations as they aim to strengthen team dynamics and performance ahead of the upcoming international challenges. The tour begins on November 24 with three ODIs, followed by three T20Is on December 5. All matches will be played in Bulawayo.
Rested players and leadership changes: Mohammad Rizwan out for T20Is
A significant development from the roster announcement is the lack of ace bias Babar Azamwho rests with his fellow stars Nasim Shah and Shaheen Afridi. All three players are expected to return for the next tour of Australia, giving them an opportunity to recharge ahead of this tough series. In addition, when Mohammad Rizvan Will feature in the ODIs, he was rested for the T20Is. After Babar stepped down as captain earlier this year, the PCB is yet to announce a new captain for the white-ball formats, adding an element of uncertainty to the squad dynamic.
Strategic choice based on internal activity
The PCB emphasized that domestic performances play a crucial role in identifying players for the Zimbabwe tour. The board reiterated its commitment to a rotation policy aimed at keeping players fresh and giving opportunities to those who excel in domestic cricket. “The selectors have recognized outstanding domestic performers for the two rounds as part of their strategy to build towards the defense of the ICC Champions Trophy. This approach is in line with the selectors’ rotation policy and aligns with the team’s strategy for the ICC Champions Trophy and beyond, providing opportunities for local performers. PCB said in a statement.
Also READ: Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi return as Pakistan announce their squads for the white-ball series against Australia
A response to recent criticism and the Team’s performance
The PCB has faced significant criticism for the team’s recent performances, especially after the two-Test series loss. Bangladesh and a disappointing start against England. Despite early setbacks in England, where Babar, Naseem and Shaheen were dropped after the first Test, the team managed to rally and won the last two matches of the series. This resilience demonstrates the potential of newer staff members who have risen to the challenge.
Squad composition for ODI and T20I
The squad for the Zimbabwe series includes experienced players and newcomers. Ahmed Daniyal, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah, Muhammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Tayyab Tahir and Salman Ali Agha have been retained for both formats. They are joined in the ODI squad by Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Faisal Akram, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub and Shahnawaz Dahani. Arafat Minhas, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Omair Bin Yousuf, Qasim Akram, Sahibzada Farhan and Usman Khan will replace a few players for the T20I matches. These changes reflect the selectors’ aim to maintain their competitive edge, while at the same time giving new talent the opportunity to showcase their skills on the international stage.
Pakistan squad for Zimbabwe ODIs:
Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (wk), Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Muhammad Irfan Khan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shahnawaz Dahani, Tayyab Tahir
Pakistan squad for Zimbabwe T20Is:
Ahmad Daniyal, Arafat Minhas, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (wk), Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair bin Yousuf, Qasim Akram, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, Sufyan Khan, Tayyab Tahir, Usmann
