Pakistan is gearing up for a thrilling five-match T20I series at home against New Zealand. They’ve just unveiled their squad, consisting of 17 members, for this exciting series.
On Tuesday, April 9th, Pakistan’s national selection committee unveiled the 17-player squad for the upcoming 5-match T20I series against New Zealand. These matches are slated to take place in Rawalpindi and Lahore from April 18 to 27.
Among the notable inclusions are Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim, both of whom recently came out of retirement. Exciting prospects Muhammad Irfan Khan and Usman Khan, who impressed in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), have earned their spots, with Irfan potentially making his debut in white-ball cricket. Also, Abrar Ahmed, who could see his first action in limited-overs cricket for Pakistan after featuring in six Test matches.
Additionally, five players have been named as non-travelling reserves, with Mohammad Wasim Jnr being the most seasoned among them. Babar Azam, who stepped down from captaincy following Pakistan’s disappointing campaign in the 2023 ODI World Cup, is back to lead the squad. Shaheen Afridi, who took over the T20I captaincy from Babar, led Pakistan to a 1-4 defeat against New Zealand in January.
Irfan Khan, hailing from Mianwali, represented Karachi Kings in the 2024 edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) where he was honored as the Emerging Player and Best Fielder. Throughout the tournament, he showcased his prowess with the bat, amassing a total of 171 runs at a commendable strike rate of 140.16. Notably, Irfan had previously represented Pakistan in the Under-19 World Cups of both 2020 and 2022, highlighting his early talent in the sport. At present, aged 21, he boasts a T20 career comprising 34 matches, maintaining an impressive strike rate of 135.96.
The cricketing extravaganza kicks off at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, with the first T20I slated for Thursday, April 18. Fans can mark their calendars as the excitement continues with the second and third T20Is lined up at the same venue on April 20 and 21, respectively. Following these thrilling encounters, the spotlight shifts to Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium. There, cricket enthusiasts can witness the fourth and fifth T20Is on April 25 and 27, bringing the tournament to a riveting conclusion.
Pakistan Squad for the New Zealand series:
Babar Azam (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Amir, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usama Mir, Usman Khan, Zaman Khan
Non-travelling reserves: Haseebullah, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, and Salman Ali Agha
