After the below-par campaign of the Champions Trophy, Pakistan team is now gearing up for the upcoming white-ball series against New Zealand. The Pakistan team will be playing 5-match T20 and 3-match ODI series in New Zealand starting from 16th March.
In this regard, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced squads for both ODI and T20 series.
In the T20 format, Pakistan has dropped big names like Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan (the former captain). When asked the reasons behind this huge step, Aqib Javed said “they wanted to introduce young players to the team”
“It can never be a permanent decision just because a cross has been placed here,” Aqib stated.
“Right now, we feel the need to introduce a younger group of players and change our style of play and mindset. Many teams have separated their T20I squads by 80-90%. However, I understand that one or two players from the existing setup will still be needed,” he added.
The current head-coach also explained that their goal is to build a squad for the T20 World Cup and Asia Cup.
“If you look at this squad, once Saim and Fakhar return fully fit, it will form a really strong unit. The goal is to keep a core group of 24-25 players together so that they don’t fall out of the system before the Asia Cup and World Cup, ensuring they approach these tournaments with a set mindset.”
Talking about Shaheen Shah Afridi who is being dropped from the ODI format, Aqib said that Shaheen is a good bowler but he needs to work on his 50-over bowling.
“You see, at times in ODI cricket, we assess how effective a player is based on the team’s demands and requirements. If a player doesn’t fulfill those, it becomes a concern,” Aqib explained.
“But on the other hand, if you look at players like Haris or Shaheen, I still believe they are good bowlers in T20 cricket and can deliver better results for the team. Now, it’s not as if Shaheen will play only T20 cricket for the rest of his life and nothing else. However, as selectors, it is our responsibility to make the right decisions at the right time,” he added.
The former bowler also discussed why leg-spinner Usama Mir was left out of the team despite his impressive domestic and Pakistan Super League (PSL) results.
Aqib explained the rationale behind Mir’s exclusion when asked about it, especially in light of Azam Khan’s selection based on his CPL accomplishments and Khushdil Shah’s inclusion following his success in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).
“At times, your team composition becomes crucial. If you consider ODIs, people were talking a lot about the lack of spinners—except for India—because they were playing in those conditions in Dubai,” he said.
“Every team usually includes seven batsmen, which also includes all-rounders, and the remaining four players are bowlers—typically three fast bowlers and one spinner. Similarly, when forming a T20 team, you need all-rounders.”
“Usama Mir’s exclusion was primarily due to fitness concerns. We had discussions with him and met him regarding this issue. When making a comeback, you need to leave no room for doubt. For example, we included Sufiyan Muqeem in the T20 squad because he is a left-arm wrist spinner, providing a different angle. Alongside him, we have Abrar Ahmed, who is a mystery spinner and has been performing exceptionally well,” he added.
The first T20 of the said series will begin on 16th March at Hagley Oval, Christchurch.
