After Champion Trophy debacle, Pakistan likely to rest Rizwan, Babar for NZ T20I series

Several senior players, including skipper Mohammad Rizwan and star batter Babar Azam, are likely to be rested during the upcoming five-match away T20I series against New Zealand, Geo News reported citing sources.

These changes would also include the appointment of a new captain for Pakistan's T20I team.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has completed the consultation process regarding the national men’s team’s white-ball squads for the New Zealand tour, scheduled to run from March 16 to April 5.

The sources further revealed that former pacer Aqib Javed is likely to remain the interim head coach as the cricket board could not start the recruitment process due to the lack of time.

However, former Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf is likely to replace Shahid Aslam as the batting coach, while Azhar Mahmood and Muhammad Masroor are set to be retained as the bowling and fielding coaches respectively.

Pakistan's white-ball captain Rizwan will lead the ODI squad, which is likely to undergo slight changes, the sources added.

Pakistan's T20I squad, however, is expected to undergo a massive overhaul as the PCB plans to give youngsters and domestic performers a chance by resting the senior players including white-ball captain Rizwan, star batter Babar, vice-captain Salman Ali Agha and pacer Naseem Shah.

As a result, all-rounder Shadab Khan, whose last appearance came in June last year during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup against Ireland, is likely to lead Pakistan in the five-match T20I series against New Zealand.

The development comes against the backdrop of Men in Green's — who were also the defending champions of the Champions Trophy — below-par performance in the first ICC event hosted by the country in nearly three decades.

During the tournament, the Rizwan-led side failed to win a single match and lost two fixtures against New Zealand and arch-rivals India. Meanwhile, their match against Bangladesh was washed out due to rain.

It was also learnt earlier that Saqlain Mushtaq is expected to take over as the national cricket team's head coach with sources saying that the former cricketer has agreed to the role after a meeting with PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi.

Pakistan's likely squad for T20I series

Shadab Khan (c), Mohammad Haris, Sufiyan Muqeem, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Abbas Afridi, Jahandad Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Omair Bin Yousuf, Khushdil Shah, Hassan Nawaz, Abdul Samad, Haris Rauf, Usman Khan, Hussain Talat and Mohammad Ali.