Mohammad Rizwan: “Naseem [Shah], Shaheen [Afridi], Haris [Rauf], and Abrar are our best options”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan ODI captain Mohammad Rizwan has stood by his decision to select spinner Abrar Ahmed and the pace trio of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf, saying they “are our best options”.
His comments come after the men in green endured a disastrous campaign in the 2025 Champions Trophy as they crashed out in the group stage after going winless.
Pakistan lost to New Zealand and India, while their match against Bangladesh was abandoned due to rain.
Afridi, Naseem, Rauf and Abrar all took two wickets in two games at an average of 71, 50, 67.50 and 37.50 respectively.
“Naseem [Shah], Shaheen [Afridi], Haris [Rauf], and Abrar are our best options,” Rizwan was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
Pakistan will now embark on a tour of New Zealand, where they will play five T20Is and three ODIs from March 16 to April 5.
Pakistan Squad for T20I Series against New Zealand: Hasan Nawaz, Omair Yousuf, Mohammad Haris, Abdul Samad, Salman Ali Agha (captain), Irfan Khan Niazi, Khushdil Shah, Shadab Khan, Abbas Afridi, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Khan
Pakistan Squad for ODI Series against New Zealand: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Akif Javed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Irfan Khan Niazi, Naseem Shah, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir
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