ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a fifteen-member squad for the first T20 International against New Zealand.
Shadab Khan will be leading the team in the absence of Babar Azam. The skipper was ruled out of the T20 series due to a thumb fracture during a practice session on Sunday. Doctors will continue to monitor his injury before confirming his participation in the first Test which starts at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui on December 26.
T20 vice-captain Shadab Khan also suffered an injury scare as he carrying a groin niggle, which limited his participation in net sessions to batting only. Shadab has missed the Zimbabwe T20 series due to a similar injury and a decision on his participation in the Auckland T20 will be made closer to the match.
Pakistan will play the first T20 against New Zealand in Auckland tomorrow. The second T20 will be played in Hamilton on December 20, while the third T20 will be held in Napier on December 22.
Squad: Shadab Khan (c), Abdullah Shafique, Faheem Ashraf, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Hussain Talat, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Wahab Riaz.
