Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) interim Chief Selector Shahid Afridi has announced the squad which will take on New Zealand during the three-match one-day international (ODI) series.
Usama Mir and Tayyab Tahir have made the cut due to impressive performances during the recently concluded Pakistan Cup while some notable names have been left out.
Mir was the highest wicket-taker in Pakistan’s premier 50-over tournament with the leg-spinner dismissing 28 batters during 11 matches while helping Central Punjab win the tournament.
Tahir, meanwhile, finished as the highest run-getter in the tournament with 579 from 12 innings at an average of 47.75. His 71-run innings in the final against Balochistan proved crucial in his team’s triumph.
Meanwhile, Shahdab Khan is the most noteworthy exclusion from the team with the all-rounder ruled out of the series due to a finger injury he sustained while representing Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash League.
Sharjeel Khan, test opener Abdullah Shafique and wicket-keeper batter Mohammad Haris have also not made the cut.
The matches will be played on the 9th, 11th and 13th of January at the National Bank Cricket Arena in Karachi.
Pakistan squad for the ODI series against New Zealand:
Babar Azam (c), Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haris Sohail, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Naseem Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Shahnawaz Dahani, Shan Masood, Tayyab Tahir, Usama Mir.
