Babar-Rizwan Set To Open, Shaheen Makes Comeback; Pakistan's Likely XI For 1st T20I Vs NZ

Shaheen Shah Afridi will serve as captain while Mohammed Rizwan will be vice-captain [X.com]

After a difficult Test series in Australia, Pakistan is now preparing to play T20Is, a format that their players find less demanding and more suitable.

The upcoming five-match T20I series against hosts New Zealand will be the first under new captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, who has been successful in league with Lahore Qalandars. The series will provide the think tank with an ideal prospect of checking out new talents while keeping the core of the side intact as both teams play their first T20I series keeping the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in mind. 

Ahead of the first T20I on Friday (January 12), let's jot down Pakistan's favoured playing XI for the Auckland encounter. 

Top-Order

Babar Azam alongside Rizwan during SCG Test (x.com)

While reports have suggested that Pakistan might rest former skipper Babar Azam, the batter spending time in the nets suggests otherwise. Babar will be back in his most preferred position at the top along with Mohammed Rizwan, who have been the flag bearers of Pakistan's T20Is batting in the past few years. Hard-hitting Fakhar Zaman has already spoken about coming one down in T20Is, where the batter can play both an aggressive or a sheet-anchor innings.

Middle-Order

The middle-order is quite cramped with several players eyeing a spot in the XI. Youngster Saim Ayub, who showcased his talent in the SCG Test, will likely play ahead of Sahibzada Farhan.

Explosive Iftikhar Ahmed will lead the charge in the middle order, given his power-hitting abilities and technique equipped to dish out boundaries at a swift pace. Making a comeback into the national side after a long layoff is wicketkeeper batter Azam Khan, who is coming off an incredible time in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

Experienced Mohammad Nawaz will cap off a strong middle-order, which can adjust as per the situation demands. 

Bowlers

NZ T20Is will be Afridi's maiden assignment as PAK captain (x.com)

Skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi, who has been struggling of late, will be expected to regain his lost form and get himself ready for the T20 WC. Speedster Haris Rauf, who ditched Tests in favour of the Big Bash League (BBL) would want to continue his form from the T20 league, where the pacer claimed six wickets.

Zaman Khan, who impressive one-and-all in his short Sydney Thunders' stint in the ongoing BBL, will be eager to perform on the big stage against a strong Kiwi outfit. With the absence of Abrar Ahmed, spinning duties will fall on the shoulders of Usama Mir, who, too, like Rauf and Zaman heads into the series with an outstanding BBL stint with Melbourne Stars. 

Pakistan's Probable XI for 1st T20I vs NZ

Babar Azam, Mohammed Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Iftikhar Ahmed, Azam Khan(wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi (c), Zaman Khan, Haris Rauf, Usama Mir

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