The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced the squads for the Australia and Zimbabwe tours, featuring Babar Azam’s return to the ODI and T20I teams. Key players such as Shadab Khan are notably absent, and the PCB has not appointed a new white-ball captain yet, with an announcement expected soon.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially unveiled the much-anticipated squads for Pakistan’s upcoming tours to Australia and Zimbabwe. Notably, Babar Azam, who recently stepped down as captain, has been reinstated to the One Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 International (T20I) lineups for the series against Australia. This decision comes after his omission from the previous two Test matches against England. The Australian tour, commencing on November 4, will feature three ODIs followed by three T20Is. Subsequently, Pakistan is set to visit Zimbabwe for a six-match white-ball series starting on November 24. The PCB has implemented significant changes to the previous ODI and T20I squads, with notable exclusions such as Shadab Khan and Fakhar Zaman, who will not participate in either tour. Interestingly, during the squad announcement, the PCB did not appoint a new captain for the white-ball format. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi is scheduled to announce the new captain in a media conference on Sunday at 3:30 PM local time. According to the PCB statement, “Babar Azam, Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi, who were given a break from the last two Tests against England, return for the Australia matches but will be rested for the Zimbabwe tour.” Additionally, Mohammad Rizwan will take part in the matches against Australia and the ODIs in Zimbabwe but will be rested for the T20Is in Zimbabwe.
The announcement from the PCB comes at a crucial time for Pakistan cricket, particularly following a period of transition and reevaluation of its squad. The decisions reflect the PCB’s strategies to rejuvenate its team’s performance amid recent competitive outings. Babar Azam’s reinstatement signifies continued faith in his abilities despite recent criticisms and transition in leadership roles. The omission of seasoned players like Shadab Khan and Fakhar Zaman indicates a shift towards potentially integrating younger talents.
In summary, the PCB has confirmed Babar Azam’s return to the ODI and T20I formats for the upcoming tours, while announcing significant squad modifications. Key players will be given rest periods as the PCB prepares for a challenging series against Australia followed by a subsequent tour in Zimbabwe. The forthcoming media announcement regarding the new captain will further shape the trajectory of Pakistan’s squad dynamics going forward.
Original Source: www.indiatvnews.com
