Shadab Khan named skipper for Afghanistan T20Is

Shadab Khan has been appointed Pakistan’s T20I skipper for the forthcoming three match series against Afghanistan in Sharjah. Regular captain Babar Azam and other senior players including the likes of Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi have been rested “considering their workloads and future series”, the Pakistan Cricket Board said in a release

“With one eye on the Men's T20 World Series 2024 and the other on ensuring the careers of their elite cricketers are extended by strategically managing their workloads, the Pakistan cricket selectors today named a new-look and highly-talented 15-player squad," the release further reported.

The new looking squad features four uncapped players namely Ihsanullah, Saim Ayub, Tayyab Tahir and Zaman Khan. While Azam Khan, Abdullah Shafique, Imad Wasim and Faheem Ashraf have been recalled. Asif Ali, Mohammad Hasnain, Haider Ali and Khusdil Shah are amongst the notable names left out of the squad. 

The only players retained from Pakistan’s last T20I assignment are Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Junior, Naseem Shah and Shan Masood 

Squad: Shadab Khan (captain), Abdullah Shafique, Azam Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Ihsanullah, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood, Tayyab Tahir, Zaman Khan.

Reserve players: Abrar Ahmed, Haseebullah and Usama Mir

Mohammad Yousuf has been named the interim head and batting coach for the mini series in Sharjah. 

"Babar, Fakhar, Haris, Rizwan and Shaheen have been provided breaks from the short Sharjah trip to allow them to switch-off from competitive cricket so that they can complete their rehabilitations, regroup, recompose and recharge their batteries and be fully fit for the challenges in the tough and challenging 2023-24 season," said Haroon Rashid, Chair of the selection committee.