In a press conference held in Rawalpindi, Pakistan cricket team’s head coach Azhar Mahmood shed light on the team’s strategy and approach for the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand. Mahmood indicated that captain Babar Azam could potentially be rested as part of the team’s rotation policy and to fine-tune the team’s combination.
Emphasizing the importance of selecting the best available players for each match while considering the prevailing conditions, Mahmood stated, “As per policy, we will try to select the best 11 players for every match.” He hinted that any player, including Babar Azam, could be replaced depending on the situation.
Regarding the opening pair, Mahmood revealed that the team management has not finalized the combination yet, considering options like Babar-Saim, Saim-Rizwan, and even Fakhar Zaman as potential opening pairs.
Expressing confidence in the squad’s capabilities, Mahmood highlighted the team’s robust composition, comprising experienced batters, agile fast bowlers, and versatile all-rounders. He particularly welcomed the return of experienced players like all-rounder Imad Wasim and fast bowler Mohammad Amir, stating that their comeback would bolster the team’s strength.
Responding to questions about the New Zealand team, Mahmood dismissed the notion of them being a “B Team,” emphasizing their domestic cricket experience and regarding them as future stars. He asserted, “This is the New Zealand team, and they are playing Pakistan.”
Mahmood confirmed that star fast bowler Shaheen Afridi is fully fit and available for the series, which is set to commence on April 18. The coach expressed optimism about the team’s preparedness and readiness to take on New Zealand in the upcoming matches.
The Pakistan squad for the series includes Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saim Ayub, Usman Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Azam Khan (wk), Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Amir, Abbas Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Fakhar Zaman, Irfan Khan Niazi, Usama Mir, and Zaman Khan, with additional reserves.
Meanwhile, the New Zealand squad, led by Michael Bracewell, includes players like Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson, Jimmy Neesham, Tim Seifert, and Ish Sodhi.
The T20I series schedule is as follows:
- April 18: 1st T20I in Rawalpindi
- April 20: 2nd T20I in Rawalpindi
- April 21: 3rd T20I in Rawalpindi
- April 25: 4th T20I in Lahore
- April 27: 5th T20I in Lahore
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