Shadab Khan Back As Pakistan Announce 18-Man Squad For The T20I Series Against New Zealand

Pakistan has announced an 18-member squad for their three-match T20I series in New Zealand, beginning from the 17th of December. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) named a 35-men touring party for the Test and T20 in New Zealand; however, has trimmed that down to 18 for the shortest format. The first T20 international will take place at the Eden Park in Auckland.

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Babar Azam, who the PCB appointed as the all-format captain recently, will lead the side with Shadab Khan as his deputy. Shadab Khan could not play the limited-overs leg against Zimbabwe at home recently, owing to stiffness in his left leg. The 18-man squad has two keepers in Mohammad Rizwan and Sarfaraz Ahmed, who played one T20 international in England.

The visitors have a potent collection of pacers in Shaheen Shah Afridi, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Musa Khan, and Wahab Riaz. Mohammad Hafeez, who struck two successive fifties in the tour of England, gets the nod while Hussain Talat, who last played a T20I back in February 2019 also makes a comeback. New Zealand, who are currently hosting the West Indies, will play T20Is against Pakistan in Auckland, Hamilton, and Napier. Following that, the two-Test series will take place in Mount Maunganui and Christchurch.

Pakistan 18-man squad for the three-Test series:

Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan (vc), Abdullah Shafique, Faheem Ashraf, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Hussain Talat, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Musa Khan, Mohammad Rizwan, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Qadir, Wahab Riaz.

The 18-player men’s national squad for the three T20Is against New Zealand!#NZvPAK #HarHaalMainCricket
More: https://t.co/6gwgtwCtnU pic.twitter.com/VxYjwT6mP1

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) December 6, 2020