Pakistan announce 15-member squad for first New Zealand T20I

Shadab Khan will lead the Green Shirts in the absence of Babar Azam.

AUCKLAND (Dunya News) – Pakistan have on Thursday announced their fifteen-member squad for the first New Zealand Twenty20 International (T20I) scheduled to be played at Auckland’s Eden Park on Friday.

Shadab Khan will lead the Green Shirts in the absence of Babar Azam – who is out with injury. Shadab Khan said it is an honor for him to captain Pakistan and told that he is an aggressive skipper by nature like Babar Azam.

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

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) December 17, 2020

The 22-year-old all-rounder said Musa Khan and Usman Qadir are not among the fifteen members but their services can be acquired if need be. Shadab Khan admitted that Babar Azam’s presence will be missed.

He said he has played at the Eden Park before and is aware of the ground’s short boundaries. The interim captain said players are waiting to get back in action in the presence of spectators.

First T20I Squad

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, Sarfraz Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Wahab Riaz

Training session on the eve of #NZvPAK T20I series.#HarHaalMainCricket #BackTheBoysInTheGreen pic.twitter.com/EgCyxVGaMb

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) December 17, 2020

Captain @babarazam258 with a quick pep talk.#HarHaalMainCricket #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/O9WgvplC3v

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) December 17, 2020

Meanwhile, the visitors conducted training session at the Eden Park on the eve of the T20I series. Players remained active in batting, bowling and fielding drills while a quick pep talk was given by captain Babar Azam.