Pakistan announce playing XI for third T20I against New Zealand

Atique ur Rehman

January 16, 2024

Pakistan players celebrate after their 2022 ICC Twenty20 World Cup cricket tournament match between Pakistan and South Africa at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). — AFP/File

Waseem Jr, Mohammad Nawaz, Zaman Khan included in squad.
Abbas ruled out due to low-grade abdominal wall muscle strain.
Third T201 set to take place in Dunedin on January 17.

Pakistan on Tuesday announced playing eleven for the third 3rd T20I against New Zealand set to take place tomorrow (Wednesday) in Dunedin.

Usama Mir and Aamer Jamal have been dropped from the team while Abbas Afridi was ruled out due to a low-grade abdominal wall muscle strain, according to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

Muhammad Wasim Junior, Mohammad Nawaz and Zaman Khan will be playing the third T20I match against New Zealand.

Earlier today, the PCB said Abbas Afridi’s scan showed no sign of significant injury, and “he will be managed symptomatically”.

The cricket governing body said Abbas’ availability for the last two games will be made at a later stage.

His exclusion would be a big loss to the team as Afridi was the leading wicket taker, 5, for the team along with Haris Rauf even though they have been in lost causes.

New Zealand beat Pakistan by 21 runs in the second Twenty20 international to take a 2-0 series lead.

The tourists threw away a strong position in their run chase after Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman scored half-centuries as they were dismissed for 173 in the final over, in response to New Zealand's 194-8.

Victory came at a cost for the Black Caps, whose captain Kane Williamson retired hurt with a hamstring injury while batting, placing him in doubt for the remainder of the five-match series.

The match bore similarities to New Zealand's 46-run win in the opening match in Auckland on Friday, with another aggressive batting approach led from the top by Finn Allen.

Pakistan’s Playing XI:

Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Mohammad Rizwan (vice-captain,), Azam Khan (wicket-keeper), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Saim Ayub, Muhammad Wasim Junior, Mohammad Nawaz and Zaman Khan.