Pakistan cricket team head coach, Aaqib Javed, has revealed why Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Mohammad Rizwan were dropped from the upcoming New Zealand vs. Pakistan series and how they can return to the limited-overs teams. Earlier today, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced squads for the 3 ODIs and 5 T20Is that will be played from March 16 onwards.
Why Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi & Rizwan were dropped
Babar Azam and Rizwan weren’t named in the T20I team, while Shaheen Afridi isn’t there in the 50-over side. Aaqib hasn’t ruled out the possibility of the star players returning but also offered that they aren’t doing anything unusual. Many teams have separate white-ball teams depending on the formats, and Pakistan is doing the same.
“You can’t rule anyone out forever, but for the moment we feel that we need to bring in newer, younger players and change the style of cricket we are playing. Many teams have separated their T20 sides from the others, up to 80-90% (of the personnel) different,” the Pakistan head coach told the press.
Play domestic cricket, prove worth
Aaqib further added that the star players are playing too much T20 cricket. They need to play longer-format cricket and need to play more in domestic cricket to hone their skills and prove their worth.
“Top players like Babar, Shaheen, and Rizwan travel so much they don’t have time to play their domestic cricket. Now they have time to play domestic cricket. Until you play four-day cricket, you will not improve in Tests or ODIs. It cannot be that you play 70% T20 cricket all year and then suddenly you play Tests or ODIs,” Aaqib added.
He further added Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Rizwan need to release where they are lacking and should take the onus by playing domestic cricket themselves.
“The players have to think about this themselves because ultimately they are responsible for their own game. You can’t force players. Don’t players have a responsibility themselves to think about their game and where it is going? That I should sacrifice and take a break from T20 and play four-day or List A so that I can get my form back?” he added.
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Pakistan Squad for New Zealand Tour
ODI: Mohammad Rizwan (c), Salman Ali Agha (vc), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Akif Javed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim, Irfan Niazi, Naseem Shah, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir.
T20I: Salman Ali Agha (c), Shadab Khan (vc), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Hasan Nawaz, Jahandad Khan, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Haris, Irfan Khan Niazi, Omair Bin Yousuf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Moqim, Usman Khan.
Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand Schedule
- 16 March – first T20I, Hagley Oval, Christchurch
- 18 March – second T20I, University Oval, Dunedin
- 21 March – third T20I, Eden Park, Auckland
- 23 March – fourth T20I, Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui
- 26 March – fifth T20I, Sky Stadium, Wellington
- 29 March – first ODI, McLean Park, Napier
- 2 April – second ODI, Seddon Park, Hamilton
- 5 April – third ODI, Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui
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