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Babar Azam Back, Shaheen Afridi Out? Probable Changes In PAK Squad After Defeat In NZ T20Is

Debashis Sarangi

Babar, Shaheen and Rizwan [Source: @DSBcricket, @TheRealPCB/X]Babar, Shaheen and Rizwan [Source: @DSBcricket, @TheRealPCB/X]

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Recently, Pakistan had a forgettable time on the field, as New Zealand crushed them by four-one in a five-match T20I series. Although the Men in Green secured an emphatic victory in Auckland, the BlackCaps bounced back in style, swatting them aside in the final two games. 

After their humiliating outing in the T20I series, Pakistan could make significant changes in their T20I squad, as mentioned below. 

Babar Azam To Be Back In T20Is?

  • Poor batting performance by the top-order players was a major reason behind Pakistan's horrendous defeat in New Zealand T20Is. 
  • Although Hasan Nawaz showed glimpses of brilliance with a flamboyant hundred, the likes of Mohammad Haris, Usman Khan and Irfan Khan Niazi disappointed with poor returns. 
  • As most of their stroke-players failed in the New Zealand T20Is, Pakistan might consider bringing the reliable Babar Azam back into the shortest format. 
  • Despite getting slammed for his strike rate, Babar is still Pakistan's best batter when it comes to technique. So, when Saim Ayub recovers, Babar could make his way back as an anchor in the T20I team. 

No Shaheen Afridi In T20Is?

  • Ace speedster Shaheen Afridi had a horrible T20I series against New Zealand. While his partner-in-crime Haris Rauf grabbed the limelight with a string of impactful performances, Shaheen managed only two wickets at a horrible average of 66.50 and a strike rate of 39. 
  • Furthermore, his economy of 10.23 signified his inability to control the flow of runs. In fact, Shaheen was eventually excluded from the T20I playing XI for the final dead-rubber in Wellington. 

No Place For Mohammad Haris; Rizwan Back?

  • Explosive batter Mohammad Haris received a much-awaited recall into the T20I squad for the New Zealand series. However, the top-order batter was nothing short of a disappointment for the visitors, managing only 65 runs across five innings at a horrible average of 13 and a strike rate of 118.18. 
  • So, considering his persistent failures with the bat, Pakistan might drop him from their T20I squad for the upcoming assignments. 
  • If Haris gets sidelined, it will open the door for the comeback of Mohammad Rizwan, Pakistan's former T20I captain, to the shortest format. 

P.S: Apart from Shaheen and Haris, Irfan Khan Niazi (36 runs, avg 12), Jahandad Khan (18 runs, avg 6, 1 wicket at an economy of 19.68) and Mohammad Ali (1 wicket, economy 12.29)could be three prominent players who might be axed from the T20I setup.