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Naseem Shah Out, No Rizwan; Pakistan Confirm Playing XI For 3rd T20I vs Australia

Debashis Sarangi

Naseem Shah has been excluded from PAK playing XI [Source: @56_71_Stan/X]Naseem Shah has been excluded from PAK playing XI [Source: @56_71_Stan/X]

In a significant development, Pakistan Cricket Board has confirmed the playing XI for the men's team's upcoming third T20I against Australia at Bellerive Oval in Hobart. As Australia have already won the series, Pakistan have decided to rest their skipper Mohammad Rizwan, with Agha Salman leading the team in the final dead rubber. 

Agha Salman was recently named as Rizwan's deputy in white-ball cricket and this game will mark his captaincy debut for Pakistan. Meanwhile, the visitors have excluded Naseem Shah from the playing XI, replacing him with left-arm pacer Jahandad Khan. 

Has Naseem Shah Been Dropped?

Although the PCB hasn't released an official statement, it's believed that Naseem Shah has been dropped from the playing XI for his prolonged rough patch in the shortest format. The fast bowler, who was impressive in the third ODI, had a forgettable T20I leg, managing only a single wicket at a horrendous economy of 13.6. 

So, considering his poor recent form and ineffective bowling on Australian soil, the visitors seem to have dropped him from their playing XI. Jahandad Khan, who adds depth and dynamism to Pakistan's lower order, replaces Naseem in the XI. 

The rest of Pakistan's playing XI looks similar to that from the previous encounter, with Babar Azam likely to open the batting alongside Sahibzada Farhan. Haseebullah Khan replaces Rizwan as the wicket-keeper, while Usman Khan, Salman Agha and Irfan Khan will spearhead the batting department alongside Abbas and Shaheen Afridi, who can play brisk cameos. 

Pakistan's Playing XI For 3rd T20I vs Australia

Sahibzada Farhan, Babar Azam, Haseebullah Khan (WK), Usman Khan, Salman Ali Agha (C), Muhammad Irfan Khan, Abbas Afridi, Shaheen Afridi, Jahandad Khan, Haris Rauf, Sufyan Muqeem