National cricket team for home series against Zimbabwe announced

 National cricket team for home series against Zimbabwe announced

Misbah-ul-Haq, head coach and chief selector of the national cricket team, has announced Pakistan's possible 22-member squad for the one-day and T20 series against Zimbabwe. He has selected the squad to give a chance to experienced players in the fifty-over format and young players in T20 International matches.

Pakistan has not played an ODI in the last 12 months. The ODI series a year later is part of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Super League. This league is also the qualifying round of ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023.

While selecting the squad for the scheduled three T20 matches in Lahore, it was decided to give regular opportunities to the young players.

The selectors have included 20-year-old Abdullah Shafiq of Central Punjab in the possible squad. The young batsman scored 358 runs in the National T20 Cup 2020 with a strike rate of 133. Abdullah Shafiq has the honor of scoring a century in his first class and T20 debut.

In addition to replacing Shoaib Malik with Abdullah Shafiq, the selectors have included Rohail Nazir in the possible squad as a backup for Mohammad Rizwan. Sarfraz Ahmed, who has been included in the national squad for the tour of England, has been asked to participate in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy starting October 25 so that he can fully regain his form before the tour of New Zealand.

Similarly, it has been decided to replace fast bowlers Mohammad Amir and Usman Shinwari with Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain and Musa Khan.

The selection of Hassan Ali and Naseem Shah was not considered due to injury but both the players have been directed to participate in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy so that their fitness can be assessed.

Squad:

Babar Azam (Captain) and Shadab Khan (Vice Captain)

Batsmen: Abdullah Shafiq, Abid Ali, Fakhr Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Sohail, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imamul Haq, Khushdal Shah and Muhammad Hafeez

Wicketkeepers: Mohammad Rizwan and Rohail Nazir

Spinners: Emad Wasim, Usman Qadir and Zafar Gohar

Fast bowlers: Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Musa Khan, Shaheen Shah and Wahab Riaz

Misbah-ul-Haq, Head Coach and Chief Selector National Cricket Team:

Misbah-ul-Haq said that the young players performed brilliantly in the National T20 Cup. It is estimated that some of the players who performed well will be disappointed not to see their name in the possible squad. However, I want to assure them that the tour His selection for New Zealand will be considered.

"And the current T-squad is up to the task of up-and-coming young players and we've got to be confident if they're solid players," said Chief Selector Syed.

He added that the aim of not making much changes in the one-day international squad is to gain valuable points in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Super League as the event is also the qualifying round of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023. 

Misbah-ul-Haq said that we have replaced Shoaib Malik and Rasfraz Ahmed with young players in the squad but that does not mean that their careers are over. Similarly, we have replaced Usman Shinwari and Mohammad Amir with Mohammad Hasnain. , Haris Rauf and Musa Khan have decided to give a chance to young players.

Misbah-ul-Haq said that Mohammad Rizwan is our first choice in white ball cricket and in view of the future we have included Rohail Nazir in his place as a possible backup squad.

The Quad 19 Tests for all possible players in the squad will be taken on October 21. During the five-day isolation period, the players will practice at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. The squad will leave for Rawalpindi on October 26.

Series schedule:

October 30: First ODI, Rawalpindi

November 1: Second ODI, Rawalpindi

November 3: Third ODI, Rawalpindi

November 7: First T20 match, Lahore

November 8: Second T20 match, Lahore

November 10: Third T20 match, Lahore