LAHORE: Pakistan’s squad for the five-match T20I series against New Zealand will not be announced before April 8 as the selectors will hold another meeting on Sunday.
The lineup was supposed to be announced this week but has now been delayed.
The selectors returned to Lahore after discussing the possibility of the series with captain Babar Azam in Kakul, where the national team is currently heading for a fitness camp under the control of the Pakistan Army.
Babar, Saim Ayub, Mohammad Rizwan, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Shadab Khan, Usama Mir, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah are the players considered for the five-match series, it was reported. Imad Waseem, Mohammad Amir, Zaman Khan, Usman Khan, Wasim Jr, Irfan Niazi and Abbas Afridi. Meanwhile, Fakhar Zaman’s hand injury is under review.
Fast bowler Haris Rauf, who sustained a shoulder injury in the recently concluded Pakistan Super League (PSL) 9, is completely unfit and will continue his rehabilitation.
Meanwhile, some reports leading pacer Shaheen may miss part of the New Zealand series in line with the cricket board’s policy to reduce the load on the team’s key batsmen.
Leading fast bowlers like Sahin can be rested in the first part of the series or a full series against visitors.
On the flip side, the returning fast bowlers have more opportunities to join the T20I series against the Kiwis.
The two teams will play three T20Is on April 18, 20, and 21 at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi. Both sides will then move to Lahore where they will play the remaining two T20Is of the series on April 25 and 27 respectively.
