Shadab Khan likely to be appointed captain for Afghanistan T20 series
Babar Azam, Muhammad Rizwan and Shaheen Afridi are being rested for Sharjah series, sources say
KARACHI: Pakistan’s star all-rounder Shadab Khan will likely be appointed as captain of the national side for the Afghanistan T20I series, whereas, the trio of skipper Babar Azam, wicketkeeper-batter Muhammad Rizwan and pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi will be rested for the Sharjah tour, sources told Geo News.
Earlier, Shaheen was reportedly being mulled to be given the task of leading the team in Babar's absence, but a cryptic social media post of the star pacer changed the scenario.
Afridi posted a picture of him with the skipper and Rizwan with Pakistan’s flag but didn’t give any caption, leaving netizens perceive his message is in support of his teammates.
The sources said that Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Management Committee Chairman Najam Sethi had also contacted Shaheen Afridi by telephone and offered him the captaincy to which he reportedly agreed.
During a press conference on Sunday, a journalist asked Shadab Khan about the opening duo being rested in the series against Afghanistan and Shaheen being made the captain.
To this, Shadab asked the journalist if he is also being rested.
“It is not known whether Rizwan, Babar or I, are being rested in the series against Afghanistan, I am hearing this from you, if there was such a thing, we would have been told.”
Shadab further said that he asked Babar about this matter, and he also doesn’t know anything, if there was anything like this we were informed, but no one had contacted us in this regard.
It should be noted that three T20 matches against Afghanistan will be held in Sharjah on March 24, 26 and 27.
It was also reported that emerging players Saim Ayub and Ihsanullah along with Faheem Ashraf and Imad Wasim may also be given a chance in the squad for the tour in the United Arab Emirates.
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