Pakistan News – Rizwan Captain; Babar, Afridi, Naseem return, PCB announces team for Australia, Zimbabwe tour

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Mohammad Rizwan has been announced as Pakistan’s new white-ball captain, and his first assignment will be the ODI and T20I series against Australia next month. Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah have returned to the team. The trio, who were omitted from Pakistan’s last two Test matches against England, make a comeback in both white-ball formats. Neither of them, nor Rizwan, will take part in the immediate ODI or T20I series in Zimbabwe.

Salman Ali Aga, who is in all four white-ball squads for overseas tours, has been named vice-captain. He will captain the team in the T20 series against Zimbabwe, while Rizwan will remain out of that series.

“I am committed to giving my best in this role and look forward to working closely with the selectors, coaches and my extremely talented teammates,” a statement issued by the PCB quoted Rizwan as saying. “Together, our goal is to meet and exceed the expectations of our fans and supporters.”

Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq, who both missed out on central contracts, are not included in either squad, but central contracts were not always a reliable indicator of team composition. Mohammad Hasnain did not receive a central contract, but his performances in the Champions One-Day Cup – where he was Player of the Tournament – ​​earned him a place in all four teams. Shadab Khan has been omitted, left-arm wrist spinner Sufiyan Muqim has been included in both T20I traveling squads, while offspin-bowling all-rounder Qasim Akram will go to Zimbabwe for the T20Is.

PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi confirmed that Fakhar’s dispute with the PCB over tweets protesting Babar’s exclusion from the Test team was a reason for his omission, although according to the chairman, it was not the biggest reason. “Tweet [he posted] This is an issue for us,” Naqvi said, “although it is not as important as his failing the fitness test. We will have to take a decision on his show cause notice and after that he will have to pass his fitness test. That’s why he’s not inside. He gave a very good speech at the Connection Camp and it was he who raised his voice which inspired us to improve our international department. I appreciate. But it is unacceptable for a player to tweet against the selection committee. This is not allowed, and will never be allowed.”

Pakistan Shaheen wicketkeeper Mohammad Haris has also failed to make a place in any team, leaving wicketkeeper Hasibullah Khan, who played the only T20 match in New Zealand in January, to be included in the four. His Peshawar Zalmi team-mate Sam Ayub, who primarily made his name as a top-order power-hitter in T20Is, will not feature in any T20I series after a sustained poor performance in the format, but he played in both ODIs. Have made space for. Squad.

The ODI series against Australia, starting on November 4, is Pakistan’s first series in this format since the World Cup in India a year ago. It marks the beginning of a busy period in the 50-over format in preparation for the Champions Trophy in February, Pakistan’s first ICC event to host since the 1996 World Cup. The Australia and Zimbabwe ODIs will be followed by white-ball games against South Africa in both formats, and a tri-series against New Zealand and South Africa in Multan just before the start of the Champions Trophy.

Australia tour (4–18 November)
Pakistan ODI team: Mohammad Rizwan (captain, wicketkeeper), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafiq, Agha Salman, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Hasibullah Khan (wicketkeeper), Irfan Khan, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub. Shaheen Shah Afridi

T20I team: Mohammad Rizwan (captain, wk), Abbas Afridi, Agha Salman, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Hasibullah Khan (wk), Irfan Khan, Jahandad Khan, Naseem Shah, Omair Yousuf, Sahibzada Farhan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem. , Usman Khan.

Zimbabwe tour (24 November – 5 December)
ODI Team: Mohammad Rizwan (captain, wicketkeeper), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafiq, Abrar Ahmed, Agha Salman, Ahmed Daniyal, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Hasibullah Khan (wicketkeeper), Irfan Khan, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Saim Ayub, Shahnawaz Dahani, Tayyab Tahir

T20I team: Agha Salman (captain), Abbas Afridi, Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas, Haris Rauf, Hasibullah Khan (wicketkeeper), Irfan Khan, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Hasnain, Omair Yousuf, Qasim Akram, Sahibzada Farhan, Sufiyan Mukeem, Tayyab Tahir, Usman Khan.

11.50 GMT: This story has been updated as Rizwan is confirmed as captain

Daniel Rasool is ESPNcricinfo’s Pakistan correspondent. @danny61000

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