Pakistan include four uncapped players in squad for New Zealand ODIs series

Pakistan have named a 20-man squad for the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand.

The selectors have named four uncapped players in the side which include wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Haris, pacers Mohammad Wasim and Shahnawaz Dahani, and leg spinner Zahid Mahmood while Iftikhar Ahmed and Khushdil Shah have been recalled. Both the players last played in the ODI against Zimbabwe back in November 2020.

Pakistan's chief selector Muhammad Wasim lavished praise on Dahani who was the leading wicket-taker in this year’s PSL.

"Shahnawaz Dahani was unfortunate to miss the selection for the England matches as the squad was announced before the start of the remaining 20 HBL PSL 6 matches. Hence, he was a straightforward selection when we sat to discuss and finalise the side for the New Zealand series,” he said.

Haris Sohail, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Sohaib Maqsood haven’t found a place for themselves in the team for the fixtures. The team will be led by Babar Azam while Mohammad Rizwan remains the first-choice wicket-keeper for the selectors.

"Mohammad Rizwan remains the first-choice wicketkeeper, as such, it has been decided to include 20-year-old Mohammad Haris in place of Sarfaraz Ahmed,” said Wasim.

The Blackcaps are slated to travel to Pakistan for three ODIs and a five-match T20I series in September-October.

Squad: Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Saud Shakeel, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shahnawaz Dahani, Usman Qadir and Zahid Mahmood

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