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Babar Azam Likely To Lose Opening Spot in Upcoming T20Is Against New Zealand

image-lr7h56njPakistan's Babar Azam (Twitter)

In a surprising turn of events, former Pakistan captain Babar Azam may find himself displaced from his opening position in the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand. Reports from InsidesportCricket suggest that Saim Ayub is likely to partner with regular opener Mohammad Rizwan at the top of the order. 



This strategic shift is part of the experimentation planned by the newly appointed captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, along with the team director Muhammad Hafeez and the high-performance coach Yasir Arafat.

While Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have been the successful opening duo for Pakistan since 2021, the team management appears keen on exploring fresh combinations. The decision is a departure from the successful partnership that saw Rizwan and Babar opening together in the T20 World Cup 2021, notably securing a historic 10-wicket victory against India in Dubai – Pakistan's first-ever win against their arch-rivals in T20Is.

In the proposed reshuffling, Babar Azam is expected to take on the number three position, with the batting order further anchored by Fakhar Zaman, Azam Khan, and Iftikhar Ahmed. The move to alter the opening pair reflects the team's desire to adapt and strategize for upcoming challenges. As Pakistan gears up to face New Zealand, everyone eagerly awaits whether the new opening partnership of Saim Ayub and Mohammad Rizwan can replicate the success of their predecessors. 

Pakistan squad vs NZ: Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Mohammad Rizwan (vice-captain and wicket-keeper), Aamir Jamal, Abbas Afridi, Azam Khan (wicket-keeper), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (wicket-keeper), Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Usama Mir and Zaman Khan