PAK vs NZ / Pakistan's ODI team announced against New Zealand, star player returns after 2 years

PAK vs NZ: Keeping in mind the ODI World Cup to be held at the end of the year, the Pakistan cricket team has announced its team for the upcoming series against New Zealand. The Shahid Afridi-led selection committee officially announced the 16-man squad on Thursday. The command of the team will remain in the hands of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan will continue in the role of wicketkeeper.

Chance for two young players

Shahid, the interim selector of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), along with announcing the team, also explained the reason behind the selection of the players. Citing impressive performances in domestic cricket, he included two uncapped players like young batsman Tayyab Tahir and spinner Usama Mir and also brought back two senior players after a long time.

Masood and Sohail return after a long time

Shan Masood played his last ODI match in the year 2019 and Haris Sohail in 2020 and now both have been given a place in the national team once again. Apart from these, Kamran Ghulam, who was included in the Test squad, has been called in the ODI team for the first time. Fast bowler Haris Rauf, who was injured in the Rawalpindi Test against England, has returned to the team after getting fit. But Pakistan's vice-captain Shadab Khan has not been able to make the place due to being unfit.

ODI series between Pak and New Zealand

Talk about the ODI series to be held between Pakistan and New Zealand, then it will be played in Karachi from January 9 to 13 after the end of the Test match. The series will be played under the World Super League and will be the first ODI series of the year for both the teams.

Pakistan team:

Babar Azam (Captain), Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haris Sohail, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Naseem Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Shahnawaz Dahani, Shan Masood, Tayyab Tahir and Usama Mir