Pakistan Drops Babar Azam & Mohammad Rizwan for New Zealand T20 Series
Pakistan has made major changes to its squad for the upcoming five-match T20 series against New Zealand, starting on March 16. Star players Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have been left out as selectors reward top domestic performers.
- New Leadership: Salman Ali Agha has been appointed as the captain, with Shadab Khan as the vice-captain. Salman previously led Pakistan to a 2-1 T20 series win against Zimbabwe last year.
- Rizwan Retained for ODIs: While dropped from T20s, Mohammad Rizwan remains the captain for the three-match ODI series starting March 29, where Babar Azam is also included.
- Squad Overhaul After Champions Trophy Exit: Pakistan’s poor performance in the Champions Trophy, where it failed to progress past the group stage, has led to several changes in the ODI squad.
- Fast Bowling Changes: Haris Rauf and Shaheen Shah Afridi will feature in the T20 squad but have been dropped for ODIs.
- Batting Adjustments: Kamran Ghulam and Saud Shakeel are dropped from ODIs, while Abdullah Shafique is recalled after missing the Champions Trophy due to poor form.
Pakistan’s selection committee has opted for a fresh approach, focusing on in-form domestic players, aiming for a stronger performance against New Zealand.
