#PAKvsNZ: The Hits & Misses of the Squad Selection!

The squads for the #PAKvsNZ series, set to begin later this month, were announced yesterday. Here’s a breakdown of what’s right and what’s wrong with Pakistan’s selection for the ODI and T20 series.

Read: #PakvsNZ: Is #ShadabKhan the Next T20 Captain?

#PAKvsNZ: What’s The Squad Like?

The squad for the concerned tour comprises of the following players.

Pakistan ODI Squad for New Zealand Tour:  

Mohd. Rizwan (c), Salman Ali Agha (vc), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Akif Javed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohd. Ali, Mohd. Wasim, Irfan Niazi, Naseem Shah, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir.  

Pakistan T20I Squad for New Zealand Tour:  

Salman Ali Agha (c), Shadab Khan (vc), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Hasan Nawaz, Jahandad Khan, Khushdil Shah, Mohd. Abbas Afridi, Mohd. Ali, Mohd. Haris, Irfan Khan Niazi, Omair Bin Yousuf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Moqim, Usman Khan.

Read: 4 Senior Cricketers Who Are Likely To Miss The #PakvsNZ Series

#PakvsNZ: What’s Right With This Squad?

Pakistan has certainly experimented by including plenty of young cricketers in the T20 squad, signaling a focus on the future. At the same time, they have made a wise decision by not discarding senior players altogether, ensuring their presence in at least one of the two squads to maintain a balance of experience and youth.

Read: Why #BabarAzam & #ShaheenAfridi Need To Be Dropped

What’s Wrong With This Squad?

Faheem Ashraf has struggled to make an impact in any format for a while, making his inclusion in the ODI squad quite baffling. On the other hand, Abbas Afridi has consistently delivered whenever given an opportunity, so leaving him out of the ODI squad feels unjust. Similarly, dropping Saud Shakeel, who scored a half-century in his last outing, is equally perplexing.