Star Pakistan allrounder Shadab Khan is all set to captain Pakistan in the T20I series against Afghanistan. Senior players like Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Afridi, and Haris Rauf are rested for the series. All the senior players will return for the series against New Zealand.
Speaking to the media PCB Chairman Najam Sethi informed Babar, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Afridi, and Fakhar Zaman were rested for the series–and congratulated Shadab Khan for being appointed as Pakistan skipper for the Afghanistan series.
“I want to congratulate Shadab Khan on his appointment as the Pakistan team captain for the series against Afghanistan. Shadab Khan has been the Pakistan vice-captain in white-ball cricket for the past couple of years and, logically, he takes over the side in the absence of Babar Azam for the short three-match T20I tour of Sharjah.”
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Shadab Khan will lead the young guns of Pakistan against the Afghanistan team in three-match T20I series in Sharjah ?#PAKvAFG pic.twitter.com/El8OImpW4h
— Cricket Pakistan (@cricketpakcompk) March 13, 2023
The idea behind this move is to give young cricketers a chance and to build the team for the 2024 T20 World Cup. Azam Khan, Faheem Ashraf, and Insanullah were given chance following their sensational performance in the ongoing Pakistan super league. A three-match T20 series is scheduled between Pakistan and Afghanistan in the UAE this month after the Pakistan Super League’s eighth edition. The first match will be played on March 24 in Sharjah, UAE.
SQUAD: Shadab Khan (C), Abdullah Shafique, Azam Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Ihsanullah, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood, Tayyab Tahir, Zaman Khan.
Will Shadab Khan be Made A Permanent Skipper For Pakistan In Shorter Formats?
Shadab Khan has been an integral part of Pakistan since he made his debut and his all-around ability gives balance to the Pakistan team. The 24-year-old made his Pakistan debut in 2017 and has played 6 Tests, 53 ODIs, and 84 T20Is thus far. He is leading Islamabad United, who are sitting third in the points table, winning six out of the ten matches they have played so far.
Current Pakistan captain, Babar Azam, has been facing criticism regarding his captaincy after he failed to win a single Test at home against England and New Zealand. Many former cricketers want Babar Azam to give up his leadership role in one format and want Shadab Khan to take over T20 captaincy. Shadab is the vice-captain of Pakistan in the limited overs format and has been in a terrific performer for Pakistan over the past few years.