Let’s have a look at who makes it into the tri-series squad with no Ahmed Shehzad…
With less than a week left in the much-awaited T20I tri-series, fans are pretty excited to see the squads, and Pakistan are not in a compromising mood regardless of who the opposition is. A strong squad will be touring Zimbabwe not only for the tri-series , but also the five-match ODI series against the hosts.
As expected, the green shirts have opted for Fakhar Zaman again – one of the top talents to emerge from the PSL – and are the strong favourites due to the likes of Hassan Ali, Shoaib Malik, and Muhammad Amir. With no Ahmed Shehzad in the squad, Sahibzada Farhan is on the cards, having an impressive List A record. The twenty-two year old has the chance to create a permanent place for himself in the team, although he has not had a good start to this year in the PSL. Muhammad Hafeez returns, while Asif Ali and Hussain Talat are retained after their international cricket debuts in Karachi.
Pakistan call up uncapped Sahibzada Farhan for T20I tri-series in Zimbabwe https://t.co/bJvAiTAiA9 pic.twitter.com/5WlrWi37C3
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) June 23, 2018
Moving towards the T20I squad, we are going to be entertained by Muhammad Amir who was expected to be rested. The team hasn’t played a single ODI since January 2018 (a nightmare series against New Zeland), and will not be accompanied by Imad Wasim, as he still suffers from a knee injury, or by Azhar Ali. Junaid Khan has been welcomed back to the side and Yasir Shah will be gathering attention after missing the latest tour to the UK, making a return to ODI cricket after October 2016. The selectors have also introduced Asif Ali to the fifty-over format in the 16-man squad, which also contains Babar Azam, who is currently recovering from and arm fracture and his participation is yet to be confirmed.
With the T20Is starting from the 1st July, followed by the ODIs from 13th July, the men in green will look to take over the Kangaroos and the Zimbabweans with a mixture of experience and youth – and I wish them the best of luck!