Pakistan National Cricket Team has announced their playing XI for the first T20I against South Africa National Cricket Team. In what has been a shocking development, the Mohammad Rizwan-led team has dropped vice-captain Salman Agha from the XI.
There have been several reports claiming that Salman Agha has been removed as vice-captain of the team. This is due to his poor performances with the bat in the last few series. He failed terribly with the bat in the series against Zimbabwe and Australia in the ODIs and T20Is.
Saim Ayub and captain Mohammad Rizwan will open the innings for the Pakistan national cricket team in the first T20I.
Saim Ayub and captain Mohammad Rizwan will open the innings for the Pakistan national cricket team in the first T20I. While the left-hander will enter the series on the back of his good performances against Zimbabwe, Rizwan will arrive after the break.
Babar Azam, who has been going through a rough patch, is expected to bat at number 3. He failed in the T20I against the Australia national cricket team and was rested for the series against the Zimbabwe national cricket team. He will also have a great opportunity to turn things around.
Tayyab Tahir replaces Salman Agha in XI, Usman Khan and Irfan Khan to form Pakistan’s middle order
Usman Khan and Tayyab Tahir, who set the stage on fire in the T20I series against the Zimbabwe national cricket team, will be in charge of the middle order. The two, having less experience, will have the enormous responsibility on their shoulders to help the team win and take the lead in the series.
Mohammad Irfan Khan will do the finishing job in the team and will want to defend his position in the team. Along with him, Abbas Afridi, who will play a crucial role with the ball, will be vital with the bat in the Pakistan National Cricket Team order.
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Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf will be the two pacers, along with Abbas Afridi. The Pakistan national cricket team has also named two spinners in the team: Abrar Ahmed and Sufiyan Muqeem, who was the player of the series in Zimbabwe.
Pakistan playing XI for first T20I against SA:
Saim Ayub, Mohammad Rizwan (c/c), Babar Azam, Usman Khan, Tayyab Tahir, Irfan Khan, Abbas Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed
BREAKING: Pakistan confirm final XI for first T20I against South Africa. pYodo.twYottmyr.doohmetro/metroGRAMdkdmydovw4
– Faizan Lakhani (@faizanlakhani) dmydomymetrobmyr 10, 2024
Pakistan national cricket team will enter the series after the series victory against Zimbabwe national cricket team. But it was a completely different team, captained by Salman Agha. This time, the seniors are also back and would like to make an impact.
On the other hand, the South Africa National Cricket Team will enter the series after the series loss against the Indian National Cricket Team. They would hope to return and give their home fans something to cheer about.