PCB to announce national squad for NZ home series today

With Pakistan cricket team finalising its preparations to take on the New Zealand in their upcoming  home series against New Zealand, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is set to announce the national squad for the five match T20I series today.

PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, on Sunday, revealed that the Green Shirts' squad will be announced on April 9 (today) instead of the earlier expected date of April 8.

The T20I series, which will provide vital exposure to the national side ahead of the 2024 T20I World Cup slated for June, will kick off on April 18 and culminate on April 27.

Three of the five matches of the series will be played in Rawalpindi, whereas the rest of the two matches will be played in Lahore.

A day earlier, the board announced the team management for the NZ series with former pacer Azhar Mahmood and veteran batter Mohammad Yousuf being appointed as the team's head and batting coach, respectively alongside Wahab Riaz who will perform duties as senior team manager.

With Saeed Ajmal continuing as the team's spin bowling coach, other members of the team management include Mansoor Rana (team manager) Aftab Khan (field coach), Cliffe Deacon (physiotherapist), Drikus Saiman (strength and conditioning coach), Talha Butt (analyst), Irtiza Komail (security manager), Raza Kitchlew (media and digital manager), Zain Maqsood (videographer), Dr Khurram Sarwar (doctor), and Mohammad Imran (masseur).

A day earlier, sources told Geo News that the 18-member squad will be announced by the selectors in a press conference.

Players, as per the sources, who are expected to be part of the national side, include Imad Wasim and Mohammed Amir — both of whom retracted their retirement from international cricket after discussions with the PCB.

Other players likely to make the team include Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Zaman Khan, Agha Salman, Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman and Abbas Afridi.

For spinners, either Usama Mir or Abrar Ahmed will be part of the Men in Green's squad, the sources added.

Meanwhile, Haris Rauf is unlikely to be part of the national side due to his injury.

United Arab Emirates's (UAE) Usman Khan, owing to his impressive performance in the Pakistan Super League's ninth edition (PSL 9), will also feature for the national side as he has been declared eligible to do so by PCB chairman.