Pakistan will face New Zealand in a five-match T20I series; The team for the same was announced in December with many new players in the team. Chief selector Wahab Riaz has confirmed that Azam Khan will be the goalkeeper against the Blackcaps. Meanwhile, Mohammad Rizwan will be out as a wicketkeeper but Wahab Riaz has said that he can play as a specialist batsman in the team.
Azam Khan has played five T20Is for Pakistan and so far his numbers are not very promising as he could only manage seven runs in four innings. However, the selection committee backs him as a wicketkeeper as he has an excellent track record in T20 cricket, excluding international matches.
He has scored 2776 runs in 128 innings at an average of 2523 and a strike rate of 144.88. He made his debut for Pakistan in 2021 against England but failed to make his mark in the national team.
Mohammad Rizwan has been Pakistan’s T20I opener with Babar Azam since the T20 World Cup 2021. However, the strike rate of Rizwan and Babar is always in doubt, which has led PCB to take such harsh decisions. Both Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam will not open the innings for Pakistan in the upcoming series against New Zealand.
Wahab Riaz, who replaced Inzamam-ul-Haq as chief selector of the Pakistan national cricket team, has made it very clear that he will promote young talents, especially in the T20I format.
As a result, Pakistan’s squad for the T20I series against the Blackcaps has many players who are either very new to the national team or have not even received their international debut. The T20I series between Men in Green and Blackcaps is scheduled to begin on January 12 in Auckland.
Mohammad Rizwan has a good track record in T20Is and received great support from Mohammad Hafeez
Azam Khan to play as goalkeeper against 🇳🇿
Chief selector Wahab Riaz makes it clear that Rizwan can also play as a batsman✌️🇵🇰#PAKvsNZ #NZvsPAK #PakPassion #AzamKhan #MohammadRizwan pic.twitter.com/uDTbHGwPeS
– PakPassion.net (@PakPassion) January 7, 2024
Mohammad Hafeez reportedly recommended Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam to be part of the team against New Zealand. Rizwan and Babar called out Wahab Riaz regarding media reports suggesting that both the experienced campaigners were resting for the T20I series against New Zealand. Wahab Riaz assured them that they would be considered before making such plans.
Mohammad Rizwan has played 85 T20Is for Pakistan and has scored 2797 runs in 73 innings at a massive average of 49.07. He has a strike rate of 127.31, which is considered decent in the format. Rizwan has smashed 25 half-centuries and one century in the shortest format of the game. He will bat at number 4 or 5 in the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand.
