Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan return as PCB announces squads for home NZ tour

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced T20I and ODI squads for the home New Zealand tour. 

National team's regular captain Babar Azam returned to the side along with his T20I opening partner Mohammad Rizwan. Both of them were given rest during Afghanistan T20I series. 

Left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi is also returning to international cricket after four months. He had missed five Tests and three ODIs against England and New Zealand post the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 due to knee rehabilitation. 

Left-handed opener Fakhar Zaman and pacer Haris Rauf have also returned to the national side. 

Young Saim Ayub and Zaman Khan have retained their positions in the T20I squad. However, young Ihsanullah has got a maiden ODI team call-up alongside his retention in the T20I squad. 

Announced T20I and ODI squads

T20I: Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Ihsanullah, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood and Zaman Khan

ODI: Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haris Sohail, Ihsanullah, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood and Usama Mir. 

Reserves: Abbas Afridi, Abrar Ahmed and Tayyab Tahir

Series schedule (T20Is to start at 9pm; ODIs to begin at 3.30pm):

14 Apr –1st T20I, Lahore

15 Apr – 2nd T20I, Lahore

17 Apr – 3rd T20I, Lahore

20 Apr – 4th T20I, Rawalpindi

24 Apr – 5th T20I, Rawalpindi

27 Apr – 1st ODI, Rawalpindi

29 Apr – 2nd ODI, Rawalpindi

3 May – 3rd ODI, Karachi

5 May – 4th ODI, Karachi

7 May – 5th ODI, Karachi