The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Tuesday that the pace spearhead, Shaheen Shah Afridi, has been included in the full-strength squads led by Babar Azam for the upcoming home T20I and ODI series against New Zealand. The series is set to begin on April 14.
Afridi was last seen in international action during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in November 2022. However, he is now back in both the T20I and ODI squads for the series against New Zealand after making a successful recovery from a knee injury.
The star pacer showcased his form in the recently concluded Pakistan Super League (PSL) where he captained Lahore Qalandars to victory. Afridi led from the front with both bat and ball, scoring 133 runs at a strike rate of 168.35 while also taking 19 wickets.
Alongside Afridi and Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, and Haris Rauf are also back in the squad after being rested for the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan in Sharjah. The team missed the services of their star players as Afghanistan took the series 2-1, their first bilateral series victory in any format against Pakistan.
Ihsanullah, Saim Ayub, and Zaman Khan impressed enough during the series in Sharjah to retain their places in the T20I squad against New Zealand. Ihsanullah is also in line for an ODI debut after a maiden call-up in the 50-over format.
The inclusion of Afridi and other key players is expected to strengthen Pakistan's chances in the upcoming series against New Zealand. The cricketing fans in Pakistan are eagerly waiting to see their team in action after a long break.
Pakistan's squads for New Zealand series:
T20I squad: Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan (vc), Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Ihsanullah, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood and Zaman Khan
ODI squad: Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan (vc), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haris Sohail, Ihsanullah, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood and Usama Mir. Reserves: Abbas Afridi, Abrar Ahmed and Tayyab Tahir
Meanwhile, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a change in the itinerary for the New Zealand tour with the ODI series commencing a day earlier on April 27 instead of April 26.
Rawalpindi is set to host one additional ODI before the action moves to Karachi for the remaining three matches.
Schedule:
Apr 14 - 1st T20I, Lahore
Apr 15 - 2nd T20I, Lahore
Apr 17 - 3rd T20I, Lahore
Apr 20 - 4th T20I, Rawalpindi
Apr 24 - 5th T20I, Rawalpindi
Apr 27 - 1st ODI, Rawalpindi
29 Apr - 2nd ODI, Rawalpindi
May 3 - 3rd ODI, Karachi
May 5 - 4th ODI, Karachi
May 7 - 5th ODI, Karachi.