NEW DELHI: Pakistan have unveiled a 17-man squad for the five-match series against New Zealand, introducing three uncapped players and retaining the controversial Haris Rauf. The squad, to be led by pace spearhead Shaheen Afridi, aims to build depth and explore new talent.
The uncapped duo of right-arm pacer Abbas Afridi and wicketkeeper-batter Haseebullah Khan have received their maiden call-ups. Legspinner Usama Mir, who was part of Pakistan's World Cup squad for the 50-over tournament in India, is also eyeing his T20I debut. The inclusion of these players reflects Pakistan's commitment to nurturing talent and building a strong squad for future competitions.
Despite recent controversies over his decision to skip the test tour of Australia, Haris Rauf has been included in the squad. Rauf will make his return to Pakistan colors after being granted permission to play a limited role in Australia's Big Bash League with the Melbourne Stars.
Test captain Shan Masood and batter Mohammad Haris have been rested for the New Zealand T20s, providing an opportunity for emerging players to showcase their skills on the international stage. Unfortunately, spin bowling all-rounder Shadab Khan and young quick Naseem Shah will miss out due to injuries.
Chief selector Wahab Riaz emphasized the need to build depth and explore new talent in the squad. "This is the best pool of players, but we also want to build back-ups. We have to explore our new talent and see what kind of performances they are capable of producing," Riaz stated.
The squad also welcomes the return of batsman Sahibzada Farhan, who last played a T20I against New Zealand five years ago. Farhan's recall is based on his solid performances in the National T20 Cup.
The T20 series against New Zealand provides an ideal opportunity for Pakistan to assess their talent pool and fine-tune their strategies before the T20 World Cup in the United States and West Indies in June.
Pakistan squad:Shaheen Afridi (capt), Aamir Jamal, Abbas Afridi, Azam Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Usama Mir, Zaman Khan.
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