Shaheen , Babar and Rizwan back in Pakistan squad against NZ
Islamabad, The Gulf Observer: Shaheen Afridi has returned to the national fold after a four-month absence as the Pakistan selectors picked a full-strength squad for the upcoming white-ball series against New Zealand at home. The decision sees Babar Azam returning as captain after being rested for the short series against Afghanistan recently.
Shaheen hasn’t featured for Pakistan post the T20 WC last year in Australia as he was completing his rehabilitation for the knee injury he had sustained. He made a successful comeback in the Pakistan Super League where he led Lahore Qalandars to the title.
Apart from Babar, Pakistan have also recalled Mohammad Rizwan, Haris Rauf and Fakhar Zaman for the upcoming series. Ihsanullah, Saim Ayub and Zaman Khan – who were given opportunities against Afghanistan – have been retained for the T20I series with Ihsanullah also receiving an ODI call-up.
The series begins on April 14 in Lahore where the teams will play three T20Is before moving to Rawalpindi for the final two T20Is. Rawalpindi will also play host to the first two ODIs before the teams complete the series in Karachi where they play three more ODIs.
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
