Abrar Ahmed And...? Rizwan Likely To Drop These Players For PAK vs SA 1st T20I
Rizwan, Babar, Shaheen are Pakistan's key players [Source: @iShaheenAfridi/X]
This evening, Pakistan will cross swords against South Africa in the first T20I of the upcoming three-match away series. This will be Pakistan's third T20I series after their shambolic group-stage exit from the ICC World T20 in the Caribbean and United States.
Mohammad Rizwan had a shaky start to his T20I captaincy, with the Men in Green suffering a humiliating series defeat against Australia. In the senior players' absence, Agha Salman led Pakistan to a 2-1 series win over Zimbabwe; however, the team's unexpected loss in the final game earned scrutiny for the vice-captain.
So, as Pakistan gear up for the Proteas challenge, they would like to start from scratch and kickstart the series on a high note. As they have several impactful players in their squad, some cricketers might miss out on selection in the playing XI, as mentioned below.
Abrar Ahmed
Why Will Abrar Ahmed Be Excluded From 1st T20I?
- Abrar Ahmed made his T20I debut against New Zealand this year and grabbed the headlines for his outstanding bowling performance against Zimbabwe. The right-arm spinner outfoxed the Chevrons with his guile, scalping four wickets in two matches.
- However, despite his recent bowling heroics, Abrar might not find a place in Pakistan's playing XI for the 1st T20I vs South Africa, as the South African tracks don't offer significant turn to the spinners. Sufyan Muqeem, being a left-arm wrist spinner, adds more mystery to the table and will likely be rewarded for his magnificent performance in Zimbabwe.
Omair Yousuf
Why Will Omair Yousuf Be Excluded From 1st T20I?
- Hailed for his flamboyant stroke play, Omair Yousuf struggled with the bat in the recently concluded Zimbabwe series, scoring only 38 runs at an abysmal average of 19 and a strike rate of 126.67.
- Also, given that Pakistan have the dynamic Saim Ayub in their squad, the swashbuckling left-hander will open the batting with Mohammad Rizwan, with former captain Babar Azam batting at number three.
Jahandad Khan
Why Will Jahandad Khan Be Excluded From 1st T20I?
- Jahandad Khan is a promising bowling all-rounder who got regular chances in Pakistan's T20I setup. However, he couldn't do much with either bat or ball, scalping four wickets and scoring eleven runs in four matches.
- So, considering he doesn't have a role clarity and Abbas Afridi brings more all-round value to the table, it will be a logical move if Pakistan prefers the latter for the number seven slot. Given that Shaheen Afridi can also hit a long ball, Pakistan can afford a genuine pacer in Mohammad Hasnain in their playing XI.