All-rounder Shadab Khan has been declared fit to lead the team in the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand starting on Friday. The leg-spinner will lead the side in the absence of regular skipper Babar Azam, who has been ruled out of the series due to a thumb fracture.
On Wednesday, the 22-year-old took part in the practice session which included fielding, bowing and batting.
Shadab Khan will be leading men in green for the first time. Prior to this he captained Islamabad United in the last season of Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Earlier, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had confirmed that the Islamabad United captain was carrying a groin niggle.
“Pakistan T20I vice-captain Shadab Khan is also carrying a groin niggle, which limited his participation in Sunday’s net sessions to batting only. He had missed the Zimbabwe T20Is due to a similar injury and decision on his participation in the Auckland T20I will be made closer to the match,” the PCB had said in a statement on Sunday.
Pakistan squad for New Zealand T20Is:
Shadab Khan (captain), Abdullah Shafique, Faheem Ashraf, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Hussain Talat, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan, Musa Khan, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Qadir and Wahab Riaz. Babar Azam (withdrawn due to injury)
