#PAKvNZ: A Look At Pakistan’s Likely XI For The First T20 Today

By
Afshar Iqbal
-
0
23
#PAKvsWI T20, PCB, #PakvsAus Shadab Khan, #T20WorldCup2022 #PakvEng Series, #PakvsEng, #PakistanVsIndia, #PakvsZim, Misbah-ul-Haq Praises Ihsanullah, Saim Ayub & Mohd. Haris, #NZvsPAK #Iftimania, #PAKvsNZ ODI Series, 1st #PAKvNZ ODI, Mickey Arthur World Cup, #PAKvsAFG, #PakvsAfg #BabarAzam, #ShahidAfridi #WorldCup Squad, Pakistan #CWC23 Semi-finals, #T20WC24, #HassanAli Ireland England, #PAKvsENG #PAKvsIRE, #PakvsEng #T20WC24, #PAKvsBAN Test, #MohsinNaqvi
Image Source: PCB/ESPNcricinfo
First #PAKvNZ T20 of the five match series is scheduled to be played today and so, here is a look at the playing XI that the green shirts are likely to field in Lahore. It is worth mentioning here that regular skipper Babar Azam, wicket-keeper batter Mohd. Rizwan and pacer Shaheen Afridi are expected to return after all three of them were rested for the previous T20 series against the Afghans.

Read: Usman Qadir Hits Back At Critics, Says Babar Azam Didn’t Select Him

#PakvNZ: Babar Azam & Mohd. Rizwan Expected To Return As Openers 

#BabarAzam & Mohd. Rizwan, 4th #PAKVSA T20, Sharjeel Khan and Fakhar Zaman, Salman Butt Babar Azam Virat Kohli, #PAKvWI, Inzamam-ul-Haq Babar Azam, #BabarAzam #RamizRaja, #PAKvNZ Playing XI, #T20WorldCup Babar Azam Rizwan, Babar Azam #T20WC, #PakvInd #T20WorldCup, #ICCAwards #Rizwan, #ICCMen'sT20I Team of the Year, Babar Azam Rizwan #PSL2022 Shadab Khan #PakvsAus, Babar Azam T20 ODI World Cups, Ramiz Raja Babar Azam Mohd. Rizwan, Ricky Ponting Babar Azam, #PAKvNZ
Image Source: PHILL MAGAKOE/AFP via Getty Images

The men in green are expected to open the innings with regular openers Babar Azam and Mohd. Rizwan. Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed and either Mohd. Haris or Saim Ayub are expected to be part of the country’s middle-order during the inaugural game. Nevertheless, Saim Ayub has been in good form recently and hence, he is likely to play ahead of Haris who had a pretty ordinary series against the Afghans. 

Read: #StayInLimitsNajamSethi & #BabarAzamIsOurRedLine Trend Across Pakistan

Lower-order

Pakistan’s Third ODI In South Africa, Pakistan’s Possible Eleven Against Australia, Pakistani Cricketers Could Still Be Dropped From The World Cup Squad, Pakistan’s First ODI Against England, Shadab Khan New Zealand T20s, Imad Wasim, Karachi Kings Babar Azam #PSL 7, #PakvsAus Imad Wasim, #PakvsAus, Shoaib Malik, PSL #PakvsAfg, Imad Wasim, #PAKvNZ
Source: The Express Tribune

Spin bowling all-rounders Imad Wasim, Mohd. Nawaz and Shadab Khan are expected to play a crucial role in the country’s lower-order. They are also expected to shoulder the responsibility in the spin-bowling department.

Read: Najam Sethi Explains PCB’s Stance On #AsiaCup2023

Fast Bowlers

#PSL2023, #PAKvNZ
Image Source: PCB/Cricket Pakistan

Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf are almost certain to lead the fast bowling department. Either Naseem Shah or Ihsanullah then will support the senior pacers. Ihsanullah’s recent form however suggests, that he stands a better chance of playing the first T20. 

Read: Misbah-ul-Haq Praises Ihsanullah, Saim Ayub & Mohd. Haris

Likely Playing XI

Babar Azam (c), Mohd. Rizwan (wk), Mohd. Haris/Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan (vc), Imad Wasim, Mohd. Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Ihsanullah/Naseem Shah.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR