Wahab Riaz indicates changing T20I opening pair
Former pacer says it is essential to prepare backups for the side
Chief Selector of the Pakistan men's team, Wahab Riaz, has indicated that there might be a change in the successful T20I opening pair of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan in the future.
There has been a lot of talk about removing one of the two — Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan — from the opening spot and it will be interesting to see whether this change will be implemented in the upcoming T20I series or not by the team management.
While talking to Geo News, the former pacer said that it is essential to prepare backups for the side.
"A backup cannot be ready until the player gets playing time. It's important to assess how players handle international pressure," Wahab said.
"There is a lot to try out in the upcoming T20I matches and we are discussing with players about which position suits them," he added.
Meanwhile, he stressed that the role of selecting the team on tour lies with the team management and skipper.
"It is important to understand the mindset of the management and captain so we can provide them the best possible players," he added.
Wahab concluded by saying there has never been a talk to drop Rizwan and Babar anytime soon.
Yesterday, batter Fakhar Zaman said that he will be batting down the order in the New Zealand series.
"It is good to have six openers in Pakistan because healthy competition is good. I'm a specialist opener but the team management has given me a message to bat as one or two down on the New Zealand tour,” he added.
Remember, the Pakistan cricket team is currently in Australia to play a three-match Test series in the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 cycle which will conclude on January 7.
Just five days after the conclusion of the Test series, Pakistan is scheduled to play their first T20I match against New Zealand on January 12.
Pakistan’s squad:
Shaheen Afridi (c), Aamir Jamal, Abbas Afridi, Azam Khan (wk), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (wk), Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mojammad Wasim Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Usama Mir, Zaman Khan.
Schedule of Pakistan’s 2024 tour to New Zealand
First match: New Zealand vs Pakistan, 12 January, Auckland
Second match: New Zealand vs Pakistan, 14 January, Hamilton
Third match: New Zealand vs Pakistan, 17 January, Dunedin
Fourth match: New Zealand vs Pakistan, 19 January, Christchurch
Fifth match: New Zealand vs Pakistan, 21 January, Christchurch.
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