Shahid Afridi recently shared his surprise at the exclusion of two all-rounders from Pakistan’s T20I squad for the upcoming series against Ireland and England.
He mentioned how Mohammad Wasim Jr. had been part of the team for a while but was suddenly dropped, which raised eyebrows.
Additionally, Afridi pointed out the absence of Aamer Jamal, further adding to the puzzle. The Pakistan team is currently in Ireland for a three-match series before heading to England for four games.
Speaking to the Reporters in Karachi, Afridi said that,
“After Abdul Razzaq, we saw a good all-rounder in Aamer Jamal, it’s surprising he wasn’t retained,” he further added.
He further Added,
“A good captain takes important decisions in difficult times. We want Babar to become a great captain as much as he is a great player. All these players have been playing for a long time, their job now is to do well in the World Cup”.
It is worth mentioning that currently Pakistan team is in Ireland for three T20 Match Series which will start today and will end on the 14 of 2024.
After this series, the Pakistan team will travel to England for four four-game T20 series and then they will travel to the USA for the T20 World Cup in June this year.
Pakistan T20 Squad for Ireland and England Series
Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Irfan Khan Niazi, Iftikhar Ahmad, Usman Khan, Azam Khan, Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abbas Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Hasan Ali, Salman Ali Agha.
This is the squad selected by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for the upcoming T20I series against Ireland and England. Let’s break it down:
- Babar Azam: The captain of the team and one of the best batsmen in modern cricket.
- Mohammad Rizwan: The wicketkeeper-batsman who has been in great form recently.
- Saim Ayub: A young talent being allowed to showcase his skills.
- Fakhar Zaman: An explosive left-handed batsman known for his aggressive style of play.
- Irfan Khan Niazi: Another promising youngster in the squad.
- Iftikhar Ahmad: An all-rounder who provides depth to both the batting and bowling departments.
- Usman Khan: A pace bowler known for his ability to generate pace and bounce.
- Azam Khan: A hard-hitting batsman who can provide quick runs in the middle order.
- Shadab Khan: A leg-spinning all-rounder who contributes with both bat and ball.
- Imad Wasim: A left-arm spinner and a handy lower-order batsman.
- Shaheen Shah Afridi: A left-arm fast bowler who has been performing consistently for Pakistan.
- Mohammad Amir: An experienced left-arm pacer making a comeback to the squad.
- Naseem Shah: A young fast bowler known for his raw pace and potential.
- Haris Rauf: A fast bowler who has impressed in domestic and franchise cricket.
- Abbas Afridi: Another young fast bowler who has been included in the squad.
- Abrar Ahmed: A left-arm spinner who adds variety to the bowling attack.
- Hasan Ali: A fast bowler who has made a successful return to international cricket after injury.
- Salman Ali Agha: A newcomer in the squad, providing additional depth to the batting or bowling lineup.
This squad includes a mix of experienced players like Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi, along with promising youngsters and players making comebacks like Mohammad Amir.
It aims to strike a balance between batting, bowling, and fielding strengths for the series against Ireland and England.
Schedule of Pakistan vs Ireland and England
| Series | Date | Match | Venue | Time (PST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ireland vs Pakistan T20I | May 10 | First T20I | Dublin | 7:00pm |
| Ireland vs Pakistan T20I | May 12 | Second T20I | Dublin | 7:00pm |
| Ireland vs Pakistan T20I | May 14 | Third T20I | Dublin | 7:00pm |
| England vs Pakistan T20I | May 22 | First T20I | Leeds | 10:30pm |
| England vs Pakistan T20I | May 25 | Second T20I | Birmingham | 6:30pm |
| England vs Pakistan T20I | May 28 | Third T20I | Cardiff | 10:30pm |
| England vs Pakistan T20I | May 30 | Fourth T20I | The Oval, London | 10:30pm |
This table outlines the schedule for the T20I series between Pakistan and both Ireland and England.
- For the series against Ireland:
- Three matches are scheduled on May 10th, May 12th, and May 14th.
- All matches will take place in Dublin, with each game starting at 7:00 PM local time (PST).
- For the series against England:
- Four matches are scheduled on May 22nd, May 25th, May 28th, and May 30th.
- The venues for these matches are Leeds, Birmingham, Cardiff, and The Oval, London, respectively.
- Matches on May 22nd, May 28th, and May 30th will start at 10:30 PM local time (PST), while the match on May 25th will start at 6:30 PM local time (PST).
This table provides a clear overview of when and where each match will take place, allowing fans to follow the series easily.