The national squad for the T20 series against New Zealand has been announced – Sports

The national squad for the 5-match T20 series against New Zealand has been announced.

While holding a press conference at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, the selection committee of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the 17-member national team for the T20 home series against New Zealand, while Babar Azam has been appointed as the captain.

Pakistan team consists of these players

Among the names announced by the selection committee are Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Abbas Afridi, Muhammad Rizwan, Muhammad Amir, Muhammad Irfan Niazi, Muhammad Rizwan, Muhammad Amir, Saeem Ayub, Naseem. Shah, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usama Mir, Usman Khan and Zaman Khan are included.

Reserve player

The National Selection Committee has also announced the names of the 17-member team under the leadership of Babar Azam at the Gaddafi Stadium Lahore on Tuesday, as well as the names of 5 reserve players.

Among the Rizzo players, youngsters Haseebullah Khan, Muhammad Ali, Wasim Jr., Salman Agha and Sahibzada Farhan have managed to make it to the squad.

Muhammad Amir’s return to the national team

Retired Mohammad Amir has returned to the national team after 4 years while all-rounder Imad Wasim will also be seen in action against the Kiwis.

Who is Usman Khan?

28-year-old Usman Khan, who joined the Pakistan team for the first time, has been playing in the United Arab Emirates before. He has been giving excellent performances in the Pakistan Super League for the past two years.

Last year, he scored the fastest century in PSL history against Quetta Gladiators for Multan Sultans in just 36 balls.

This year also Usman Khan scored 430 runs in PSL with the help of two centuries and two half-centuries.

Who is Irfan Khan Niazi?

21-year-old Irfan Khan Niazi’s inclusion in the team is based on his excellent performance in domestic cricket and Pakistan Super League. He was named the best fielder of the tournament and the best emerging cricketer while playing for Karachi Kings in the PSL this year. were

While playing for State Bank in the President Trophy, Irfan Khan Niazi scored 455 runs in 6 innings, he has also scored a century in first-class cricket, while he has scored a half-century in T20 matches.

Irfan Khan has also represented Pakistan in the Under-19 World Cup in 2020 and 2022.

Haris Rauf will not be available for the series against New Zealand.

On this occasion, senior team manager Wahab Riaz said that our target is the World Cup, we have talked to the players, Haris Rauf will not be available in the series against New Zealand, he may be available in the series against England.

Wahab Riaz has added that Imad Wasim and Mohammad Amir have match-winning abilities, the series is very important keeping in mind the ICCT Twenty World Cup.

‘Pak New Zealand series is part of preparation for T20 World Cup’

The selection committee said that as many players as possible will be given a chance under the rotation policy in this series so that a strong combination can be prepared, the series is part of the preparation for the T20 World Cup.

Irfan Niazi said that it is a pleasure to join the Pakistan team for the first time, I will focus on the best performance, I will try to take full advantage of the opportunity.

Usman Khan said that he is happy that the selectors have given me a chance in the series against New Zealand, it is a matter of pride for any player to represent the country.

Usman and Irfan made it to the team with their excellent performance.

Batting coach Muhammad Yusuf said that Usman and Irfan have made a place in the team with their good performance, I am sure that these two players will live up to the trust of the captain and selectors.

It should be remembered that the 20 series of 5 matches between Pakistan and New Zealand will be played from April 18 to 27 in Rawalpindi and Lahore, for which the New Zealand cricket team will arrive in Pakistan on April 14. The ICCT 20 in India is part of the preparations for the World Cup, after this series Pakistan cricket team will also play a series of T20 International matches in the tour of England and Ireland.

It should be noted that the National Selection Committee had informed the players about the rotation policy during the meeting in the past few days, the aim of which is to give opportunities to more players so that a strong combination can be prepared.