Afridi Proposes Resting Shaheen, Shadab for Final

News Desk

Islamabad: Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has suggested resting Shaheen Afridi and Shadab Khan for the final T20I between Pakistan and New Zealand.

Pakistan’s cricket team lost the series 1-3 after New Zealand defeated them by 115 runs in the fourth match. Batting first, New Zealand set an impressive total of 221 runs and then bowled out Pakistan for just 105, securing the series win 3-1.

With the series already decided, the two teams will meet for the final T20I on March 26, with New Zealand aiming to complete a dominant series victory.

Ahead of the match, Afridi proposed that Pakistan give opportunities to players on the bench. He suggested resting senior players like Shadab and Shaheen to allow the replacements to get a chance to play. Afridi shared his thoughts in a post on X: “With the series lost, the players on the bench should be given a chance. Shadab and Shaheen can be rested, and replacements can be given an opportunity.”

After the T20I series concludes, both teams will head to Napier for the first ODI on March 29. The second ODI is scheduled for April 2 in Hamilton, while the third and final ODI will take place in Mount Maunganui on April 5.

Pakistan’s squads for the New Zealand tour:

T20Is: Salman Ali Agha (c), Shadab Khan (vc), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Hasan Nawaz, Jahandad Khan, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Usman Khan (wk)

ODIs: Mohammad Rizwan (c), Salman Ali Agha (vc), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Akif Javed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir.