Following a challenging Test series in Australia, where Pakistan faced a 0-3 defeat, the team is gearing up for another tough assignment against New Zealand in a five-match T20I series commencing on January 12. The upcoming series marks Shaheen Afridi’s debut as the captain, succeeding Babar Azam, who stepped down after a disappointing ODI World Cup. Mohammad Rizwan, an experienced wicketkeeper-batter, has been appointed as the vice-captain for the T20 format.
Having previously led Lahore Qalandars to victory in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Shaheen Afridi now takes the helm of the national team, with expectations that he might continue as the captain for the T20 World Cup. For the New Zealand series, Afridi will be supported by Mohammad Rizwan in the role of vice-captain.
Rizwan, with 85 T20Is under his belt, has contributed significantly, amassing 2,797 runs, including one century and 25 half-centuries. Despite some criticism regarding his strike rate when opening alongside Babar Azam, Rizwan is likely to continue as an opener. Expressing his gratitude for the vice-captaincy, Rizwan looks forward to collaborating with the new skipper, coaching staff, and teammates to contribute to the team’s success.
The announced Pakistan squad for the New Zealand T20Is includes 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.
The T20 series schedule is as follows:
- 1st T20 – January 12, 2024, at Eden Park, Auckland
- 2nd T20 – January 14, 2024, at Seddon Park, Hamilton
- 3rd T20 – January 17, 2024, at University Oval, Dunedin
- 4th T20 – January 19, 2024, at Hagley Oval, Christchurch
- 5th T20 – January 21, 2024, at Hagley Oval, Christchurch.
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