Written by: Waseem Abbas
Posted on: December 12, 2024 | 
Team Pakistan after taking a wicket against South Africa in the first T20I match
Pakistan under Aqib Javed has secured triumphs against Zimbabwe and Australia in the recently concluded series, barring the T20I series against the Aussies. However, Pakistan lost against South Africa in the first T20I match played in Durban on the 10th of December. Chasing the target of 184, Pakistan could only score 173 runs in the designated 20 overs. The three-match T20I series will be followed by three ODIS and two Test matches.
Muhammad Rizwan scored 74 off 64 in the first T20I match.
Pakistan has announced a squad comprising a combination of emerging and experienced players, axing many players from the recently concluded Pakistan-versus-Zimbabwe series. Muhammad Rizwan has been named captain in ODIs and T20I, whereas no vice-captain has been named. It is important to note that Salman Agha was named Rizwan’s deputy in the Australia series, and he led Pakistan against Zimbabwe in Rizwan’s absence. A good cricketer in Test and ODI cricket, Agha’s prowess in T20 cricket is not yet established, and hence the decision to appoint him as the team’s vice-captain was made in haste. In a time when other teams select players who can play aggressively in the middle order, Pakistan opted with an anchor whose strike rate in T20 cricket is hovering around 116. Agha could only accumulate 50 runs in the 6 games he played at an average of a mere 10, and a strike rate of just 79. It would be a grave injustice if he is selected for the team, for playing in the eleven ahead of players like Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan, for they have the ability to score runs quickly. Another player whose selection in T20 cricket does not make sense is Omair Bin Yousuf, who is a good player of the long format but has been selected in the T20I squad.
Saim Ayub after playing a shot.
It is, however, a good step that team management is backing Saim Ayub to come good in T20I cricket, who has yet to prove his mettle in the format. Irfan Khan Niazi is also getting the management’s support, as he is yet to consolidate his place in the team as a power-hitter. Babar Azam is back in the team with Rizwan, while Fakhar Zaman is yet to find a place after a spat with the team management a month ago. Pakistan needs to bring Fakhar and Shadab Khan back to the T20I team, with the latter as an all-rounder. Other players who could be big hits in T20 cricket for Pakistan are Haider Ali and Muhammad Haris, who have the ability to clear the fence with ease. Pakistan team management needs to give them an extended run, like Saim Ayub, so that Pakistan is able to play the aggressive brand of cricket. Naseem Shah has also been axed from the T20I team, who had failed to impress in the format so far. All-rounders Jehandad Khan and Abbas Afridi will support Shaheen Shah, Haris Rauf and Muhammad Hasnain in the pace battery department. In the spin department, Abrar Ahmed and Sufiyan Muqeem will be ready to roar against the Protease.
Shaheen Shah, Muhammad Hasnain and Haris Rauf during practice session.
Pakistan’s ODI team has a few new names, like Usman Khan, who have been added as a middle-order player capable of playing fearless cricket. Tayyab Tahir and Kamran Ghulam have been retained in the team as a reward for their performances against Zimbabwe, while Saim Ayub and Irfan Niazi are also included in the squad. It is a good omen that finally a few genuine middle-order players are also in the team, who can play spin in the middle overs. Imam ul Haq and Fakhar Zaman, a formidable opening pair for Pakistan in ODIs since 2018, continue to miss out, while Abdullah Shafiq retains his opening spot.
The only issue is the missing of a pace-bowling allrounder in the team, as none of Jehandad Khan, Abbas Afridi or Aamir Jamal have been selected. Hasnain, Afridi, Rauf and Naseem form the pace combination, while Sufiyan and Abrar are the two specialist spinners selected. Young Faisal Akram has been axed for making room for Sufiyan, who both had done exceptionally well against Zimbabwe and Australia.
Abrar Ahmed after taking a wicket.
Shan Masood-led Test team has a few interesting omissions and a couple of out-of-the-box selections. Opener Muhammad Huraira, who has been in and out of the Pakistan Test team for the last two years, has been once again left out to make room for wicket-keeper batter Haseeb Ullah Khan. Veteran pacer Muhmmad Abbas has been recalled after three years in the wilderness, who has 741 first-class wickets at 20.63 apiece. Babar Azam and Naseem Shah are back in the team after missing out on the last two Tests against England, while Shaheen Afridi continues to miss out. There is a chance that Babar will feature in the playing eleven if management decides to bench Abdullah, by opening with Shan and Saim, with Kamran batting at three and Babar at four.
It is baffling to see that in the conditions conducive for pace bowlers, Shaheen has been left out, who had a good chance to regain his lost form. Khurram Shehzad and Mir Hamza retain their sport alongside Aamir Jamal in the pace battery. Noman Ali has been selected as the sole specialist spinner, leaving Sajid Khan, the player-of-the-series from Pakistan’s last test series against England. This decision is understandable as South Africa’s conditions are seam-friendly and their batting lineup consists of mostly right-hand batters, the match-up did not suit Sajid’s prowess.
The schedule of Pakistan versus South Africa series.
The first T20I is scheduled on the 10th of December, the second on the 13th, and the last on the 14th of December, 2024. The first ODI game will be played on the 17th, the second on the 19th and the final match on the 23rd of December. The first Test match will be played in Centurion from the 26th to the 30th of December, while the Second Test is scheduled in Cape Town from the 3rd of January to the 7th of January, 2025.
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