Sarfaraz Ahmed is to replace Mohammad Rizwan in playing XI against NZ.
In his most recent Test, which Sarfaraz Ahmed played against South Africa in 2019, he had a half-century and 10 catches.
Three changes are anticipated in the Pakistani team’s lineup for today’s opening match against the Kiwis in Karachi. According to the sources, the injured Naseem Shah will be replaced by the pacer Mir Hamza, and off-spinner Sajid Khan is also anticipated to join the team.
The management changes at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) led to the appointment of Shahid Afridi as chief selector for the New Zealand series, which brought about changes in the Test team. The PCB operations are to be overseen for 120 days by a 14-member body under the direction of Najam Sethi.
Afridi Says the Workload should be Managed:
Speaking to the media in Karachi on Sunday, Shahid Afridi emphasized the importance of managing players’ workloads and made a suggestion that Mir Hamza and Sarfaraz Ahmed might be included in the starting lineup.
Afridi’s first significant choice was to name Shahnawaz Dahani, Sajid Khan, and Mir Hamza to Pakistan’s Test squad for the domestic series. According to Afridi, players were chosen based on their contributions to Pakistan’s achievement and their performance results.
Because Naseem Shah isn’t fully fit, it was a good idea to include two fast bowlers in the team. When will Shahnawaz Dahani get the chance? We’ve been carrying him for so many days. Additionally, it was essential to have a left-hander because Shaheen won’t always be available, which is why Mir Hamza was added, according to Shahid Afridi.
The chief selector added, “And Mir Hamza has been performing well; I think he deserves to play now.”
Afridi continued, “Players’ workload management is important, and captain Babar Azam has also stressed this.”
Players on our team regularly participate in all formats. Our bench needs to be strengthened, and we have some seniors who have been warming the bench for a while, so let’s see if that helps. If one is rested, there shouldn’t be any issues. The chief selector announced, “I’m meeting Babar Azam tonight, and we’ll talk about how to move.
Afridi also stated that he wants Babar Azam to be recognised as one of cricket’s greatest captains and that he will help him achieve that goal by giving him his support.
