Pakistan have announced their squad for their upcoming tour to New Zealand. The Pakistan Cricket Board announced a combined squad, which includes players for the senior team and the Shaheen’s side. It did not specify which player belongs to which squad. Babar Azam was earlier announced as the new Test captain as is now Pakistan’s captain in all the three formats of the game. The Pakistani selectors made some big calls on Wednesday as they dropped veteran all-rounder Shoaib Malik and pacer Muhammad Aamir from a 35-member squad for the upcoming New Zealand tour.
The PCB said both 38-year-old Malik and 28-year-old Amir were left out as the “selectors prefer youth” over them. this year,
Another senior player Asad Shafiq, who has played 77 Tests, was left out “due to lack of form.” Uncapped Amad Butt, Danish Aziz, Imran Butt and Rohail Nazir were named, as also Abdullah Shafique and Usman Qadir in the squad which has an average age is 27.4. “Test players not involved in the T20Is in the first half of the series against New Zealand will be available for selection for Shaheens (Pakistan A), who are expected to be playing four-day matches against New Zealand A during that period,” the PCB said. “Likewise, when the national side is involved in the ICC World Test Championship matches against New Zealand, national men’s team players not part of those matches will be available for selection for the Shaheens, who are expected to be involved in 20-over games against New Zealand A during those days.” the PCB said. The PCB also said that the chief selector and head coach Misbah-ul-Haq before finalising the squad had consulted the six cricket association head coaches, Shaheens head coach Ijaz Ahmed and Saqlain Mushtaq, head of international player development. The squad will depart for New Zealand on November 23.
Pakistan squad for NZ tour:
Batsmen: Abid Ali, Imam ul Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood, Fakhar Zaman and Zeeshan Malik.
Babar Azam (Capt), Azhar Ali, Fawad Alam, Hussain Talat, Haider Ali, Imran Butt, Haris Sohail, Ifthikar Ahmed, Muhammad Hafeez, Khushdil Shah and Danish Aziz.
Wicketkeepers: Muhammad Rizwan, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Rohail Nazir.
Spinners: Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Usman Qadir, Yasir Shah and Zafar Gohar.
Fast Bowlers: Amad Butt, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Muhammad Musa, Muhammad Hasnain, Muhammad Abbas, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sohail Khan and Wahab Riaz.