Pakistan name T20I squad for the 3-match series against South Africa

[MenInG]

Pakistan name T20I squad for South Africa series

Lahore, 26 January 2019:

The Pakistan cricket selectors have named a 15-player T20I side for the upcoming series against South Africa, which includes one change from the one that defeated Australia and New Zealand by identical 3-0 margins.

Fast bowler Mohammad Amir has returned to the side and has replaced Waqas Maqsood.

The matches will be held on 1, 3 and 6 February in Cape Town, Johannesburg and at Centurion, respectively, with top-ranked Pakistan aiming to stretch their unbeaten run to beyond nine matches. In 2018, Pakistan won a world record 17 out of 19 T20Is.

Asif Ali and Sahibzada Farhan have been drafted in the side that is presently involved in One-Day Internationals, while the players returning home following the 50-over matches are: Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Rizwan and Shan Masood.

Asif had a successful Mzansi Super League in South Africa where he scored 150 runs at a strike-rate of over 180 for the Cape Town Blitz. In a 16-match T20I career, Asif has scored 237 runs at a strike-rate of just under 140.

Farhan has scores of 0, 39 and one in his three T20I innings, but he has scored 452 runs in 22 T20 matches at a strike-rate of under 110.

Chairman of Pakistan cricket selectors, Inzamam-ul-Haq, said: “Once again, the selectors have gone ahead with the policy of maintaining consistency and retaining a winning combination.

“While our focus is very much on this year’s ICC Cricket World Cup, we cannot forget that the ICC T20 World Cup is in Australia in the second half of 2020. So, we need to give as much exposure and experience to our up and coming players as possible, but without compromising on the assignments in hand.”

Squad:

1. Sarfaraz Ahmed (captain, wicketkeeper)
2. Asif Ali
3. Babar Azam
4. Faheem Ashraf
5. Fakhar Zaman
6. Hasan Ali
7. Hussain Talat
8. Imad Wasim
9. Mohammad Amir
10. Mohammad Hafeez
11. Sahibzada Farhan
12. Shadab Khan
13. Shaheen Afridi
14. Shoaib Malik
15. Usman Shinwari

Match schedule

1 February – 1st T20I, Cape Town
3 February – 2nd T20I, Johannesburg
6 February – 3rd T20I, Centurion


Media Department

 

[Muhammad Saad]

Get ready for epic thrashing saffers, this will get test match and odi series beating erased.

 

[Pakpak]

Get ready for epic thrashing saffers, this will get test match and odi series beating erased.

We will beat them, we beat them last time too with a disaster of a team with ease.

 

[arehaan]

Pakistan will be thrashed badly in T20s as well. This team has been exposed badly and with Sarfraz having zero self confidence I will be very surprised if we are able to pull out of this.

We are in state of decline and there is too much similarity between Test, ODI and T20 squads which is not helping. Players are finding it difficult to switch the gears and lack of rotation policy poses serious doubts on the selection and management. If anything Sarfraz should have been rested for the T20 series including Babar and Hassan given they have been playing non stop cricket and world cup being around the corner.

 

[MenInG]

Pakistan will be thrashed badly in T20s as well. This team has been exposed badly and with Sarfraz having zero self confidence I will be very surprised if we are able to pull out of this.

We are in state of decline and there is too much similarity between Test, ODI and T20 squads which is not helping. Players are finding it difficult to switch the gears and lack of rotation policy poses serious doubts on the selection and management. If anything Sarfraz should have been rested for the T20 series including Babar and Hassan given they have been playing non stop cricket and world cup being around the corner.

The shorter the format - better we get - our batting strength is short-term in nature.

 

[Shafi]

Looks like Inzi didn't learn anything and keep announcing same squad. It will 3-0 as well

 

[Dr_Bassim]

Teams usually use T20 as a format to bench test their strength for serious 50 over and Test Cricket.

They chop, change, and induct fresh blood.

We use T20 cricket to prove that we are amazing in this format.

 

[Mamoon]

The "we are the best in T20s" drama will end soon. A much needed reality is on the cards in this format. It will be along the same lines as the Asia Cup in ODIs and the New Zealand series in Tests.

Not sure when or how, but it is coming.

 

[Ozymandiasza]

Teams usually use T20 as a format to bench test their strength for serious 50 over and Test Cricket.

They chop, change, and induct fresh blood.

We use T20 cricket to prove that we are amazing in this format.

Well, you make for excellent competition in this format. Who wouldn't want to brood their youngsters against an older and more experienced world no.1? Unfortunately, your model is not sustainable.

I've got tickets to the first game in Cape Town and keep bragging to my friends that "Pakistan is no.1 for a reason, this should be an awesome game". Let's hope I'm correct

 

[Hawkeye]

Well, you make for excellent competition in this format. Who wouldn't want to brood their youngsters against an older and more experienced world no.1? Unfortunately, your model is not sustainable.

I've got tickets to the first game in Cape Town and keep bragging to my friends that "Pakistan is no.1 for a reason, this should be an awesome game". Let's hope I'm correct

) ) )

I hope you do get your ticket's worth.

On paper they are no.1 but ability wise especially batting, any half decent side can own them.

Especially on good batting tracks.

 

[Hawkeye]

Well, you make for excellent competition in this format. Who wouldn't want to brood their youngsters against an older and more experienced world no.1? Unfortunately, your model is not sustainable.

I've got tickets to the first game in Cape Town and keep bragging to my friends that "Pakistan is no.1 for a reason, this should be an awesome game". Let's hope I'm correct

Btw, can you also take a placard or poster with a catchy line so that cameras do focus on you?

Then sign it off with your PP username. So we know it was you!

 

[saeedhk]

Hussain Talat and Fahkar should stick to playing gully cricket. Both are unfit for any competitive cricket.

 

[Mansoor3120]

I wish this team loss to SA B team in entertainment matches as will.

 

[Bewal Express]

Hussain Talat and Fahkar should stick to playing gully cricket. Both are unfit for any competitive cricket.

Talat yes, but FZ needs to be given as long as needed.

 

[Bewal Express]

Why are Malik and Hafeez playing these games? Most countries use these games to test young players but PK seems to take them far too seriously. It would be a great chance to try Musa, Badar etc

 

[Saj]

Sahibzada Farhan and Hussain Talat are 2 strange picks. Both have not looked in great form of late.

 

[Sher Khan]

Sahibzada Farhan and Hussain Talat are 2 strange picks. Both have not looked in great form of late.

Mukhtar Ahmed was unfairly dropped in my opinion. Players like him are matchwinners. He deserves a long rope atleast in t20s. Farhans game isn’t at all suited to t20s.

 

[Darkrai]

Poor selection.

 

[Rana]

The names get pretty boring after number 8 in the lis.

 

[QalandarFan]

Time to win another T20I series and get the third whitewash in a row!

 

[Chokli]

Sahibzada Farhan and Hussain Talat are 2 strange picks. Both have not looked in great form of late.

they pretty much copied and pasted and deleted waqas maqsood

 

[gazza619]

Finally a chance for Pak to win.

 

[Sunny_majoka]

we have better player than these .
though i am hopeful we will do better

 

[Sultan Baba]

Shoaib Malik captin for all 3 t20s
And M Rizwan also replace Sarfraz Ahmed.....

 

[Nasty Naz]

I'll be interested to see how Asif Ali performs in these conditions.

 

[ARK Rafay]

If Pakistan will lose this T20 series. It will be because Sarfraz wasn't the captain.

 

[Arsalan Pro]

Pakistan will win 3-0, nobody comes close to us in T20Is.

 

[Arsalan Pro]

We should play this team:

Fakhar Zaman
Babar Azam
Asif Ali
Mohammad Hafeez
Shoaib Malik(C)
Mohammad Rizwan(Wk)
Imad Wasim
Shadab Khan
Hasan Ali
Mohammad Amir
Shaheen Afridi