Pakistan announce 15-member squad for first New Zealand T20I
LAHORE (92 News) - Pakistan on Thursday announced the 15-member squad for the first T20I against New Zealand in Auckland.
Shadab Khan will lead the side in absence of regular skipper Babar Azam who has been ruled out of the tour over a thumb fracture.
Shadab said that leading the Green Caps is an honour for him but the absence of the talisman batsman will be felt.
Squad for the first #NZvPAK T20I:
Shadab Khan (c)
Abdullah Shafique
Faheem Ashraf
Haider Ali
Haris Rauf
Hussain Talat
Iftikhar Ahmed
Imad Wasim
Khushdil Shah
Mohammad Hafeez
Mohammad Hasnain
Mohammad Rizwan
Sarfaraz Ahmed
Shaheen Shah Afridi
Wahab Riaz#backtheboysingreen pic.twitter.com/sL9Abp9GPV
“His absence in the side will be surely felt,” the all-rounder said. “However, it will provide an opportunity for new players to step up and showcase their talent.”
Shadab, expressing optimism of scoring big runs in the opening game of the three-match series, said that he has experience of playing in Auckland where the boundaries are short.
The leg-spinner relished the opportunity of playing in the presence of spectators again.
