Pakistan’s 20-member squad for the T20 series against South Africa has been announced. New Zealand’s successful senior batsman Mohammad Hafeez dropped from the squad, while Asif Ali has returned to the team.
Veteran all-rounders Mohammad Hafeez, Shadab Khan, Emad Wasim, Fakhr Zaman, Abdullah Shafiq, Mohammad Musa and Wahab Riaz, have not been included in the national squad.
Chairman Selection Committee Muhammad Waseem announced the national T20 squad at a press conference in Lahore.
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Babar Azam will lead the 20-member national squad for the three-match T20 series. At the same time, other players include Haider Ali, Khushdal Shah, Hussain Talat, Danish Aziz, Asif Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Muhammad Nawaz, Zafar Gohar, Fahim Ashraf and Amir. Yamin, Emad Butt, Mohammad Rizwan, Sarfraz Ahmed, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Hassan Ali, Usman Qadir and Zahid Mahmood.
Chairman Selection Committee
Chairman Selection Committee Muhammad Waseem said that the decision for the T20 squad has been taken after the most consultation. The T20 World Cup has also been kept in mind.
Mohammad Wasim said that all-rounders are very important in white-ball cricket, adding a need to attack openers and finishers in the middle order.
Regarding the dropped players, Mohammad Waseem said that Fakhar zaman’s international form has not been good, the strike rate is also low. Wahab Riaz’s performance is not consistent, and his current form is not good; Shadab Khan and Emad Waseem are not available, while Hafeez is not available for biosecurity until February 3.
The chief selector said that the dropped players will be included in the plans. While Sarfraz is an experienced keeper, he has done well for Pakistan.
He said that the covid 19 protocols are the same for every player. The team’s biosecure bubble will start from February 3, Mohammad Hafeez could not come, Asif Ali will be available on February 3. While Mohammad Hafeez is not available, we have Hafeez’s form. No doubt he would have been in the team if he had been available for the biosecure bubble.
It should be noted that the T20 series between Pakistan and South Africa will start on February 11 in Lahore.
