Tag: Pakistan vs Afghanistan T20Is

Pakistan squad departs for Afghanistan T20Is

Posted on by A Sports

LAHORE: Pakistan cricket team flew out to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Wednesday to play three-game Twenty20 international series against Afghanistan, commencing on March 24. 

The 15-member national squad along with three travelling reserves took off from Allama Iqbal International Airpot in Lahore in the evening.

Taking to Twitter, Pakistan Cricket Board shared pictures of the players before they boarded the plane.

It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan announced a young-looking squad under the captaincy of Shadab Khan for the upcoming away assignment as the key players, including all-format captain Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Haris Rauf and Shaheen Afridi were rested.

The Green Shirts will play three T20Is against Afghanistan on March 24, 26 and 27 in Sharjah.

Pakistan Squad: Shadab Khan (c), Abdullah Shafique, Azam Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Ihsanullah, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood, Tayyab Tahir, Zaman Khan.

Reserves: Abrar Ahmed, Haseebullah, Usama Mir

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Afghanistan recall ex-captain Nabi for T20I series against Pakistan

Posted on by A Sports

Former Afghanistan captain Mohammad Nabi has been recalled to the Afghanistan squad for the three-match T20I series against Pakistan in Sharjah, starting on March 24. 

Afghanistan Cricket Board on Tuesday named a 17-member squad for the forthcoming home series against Pakistan on a neutral venue. The three matches will be played on March 24, 26 and 27 in Sharjah.

Leg spinner Rashid Khan, who captained Afghanistan during the T20I tour of UAE last month, will continue to lead the side in the upcoming series.

Veteran all-rounder Nabi, however, made his return to the squad after missing out the UAE series, whereas, Rahmat Shah and Hazratullah Zazai were left out.

Nabi stepped down as Afghanistan’s captain after the side’s first-round exit in the last year’s T20 World Cup in Australia. He also led the team during the 2022 Asia Cup.

Our team has been working hard in training camp and selectors have selected the best available players for the series. I am confident that our team will perform at their best and make our nation proud. We wish our team the best of luck for the series and hope to see them emerge victorious.” said ACB CEO Naseeb Khan in a media release.

Afghanistan Squad: Rashid Khan (C), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Ibrahim Zadran, Usman Ghani, Sediqullah Atal, Najibullah Zadran, Afsar Zazai, Karim Janat, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rehman, Fareed Ahmad, Fazal Haq Farooqi and Naveen Ul Haq.

Pakistan Squad: Shadab Khan (c), Abdullah Shafique, Azam Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Ihsanullah, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood, Tayyab Tahir, Zaman Khan.

Reserves: Abrar Ahmed, Haseebullah, Usama Mir

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‘Excited to lead young team’ says Shadab on his captaincy appointment

Posted on by A Sports

LAHORE: Newly-appointed Pakitan captain for the three T20Is against Afghanistan in Sharjah later this month, Shadab Khan, said he was very excited to lead a young team in the upcoming series.  

Shadab, who will lead a new-look T20I side in the absence of regular captain Babar Azam, expressed that he would try to do justice with the role with his performance and abilities.

Along with Babar, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi are also given rest while four uncapped players, namely, Ihsanullah, Saim Ayub, Tayyab Tahir and Zaman Khan have been included in the squad.

Whereas, Abdullah Shafique, Azam Khan, Faheem Ashraf and Imad Wasim have been recalled to the national T20I side.

“I am grateful to  Almighty Allah for giving me this opportunity,” said Shadab in an interview shared by Pakistan Cricket Board on their official Twitter account on Tuesday.

“This is a big responsibility as I will be leading a nation of 220 million people and I will try my best to do justice with it with all the ability that I have.”

The new captain congratulated the youngsters who received their maiden call-up to the national side, saying, “it is exciting to lead a young team since it is full of energy.”

“I will try to take the energy from the young players and translate it into my own performance,” he added.

It may be noted here that the three-match series between Pakistan and Afghanistan will commence on March 24, while the remaining two T20Is will be played on March 25 and March 27. All the matches will be played in Sharjah.

Squad: Shadab Khan (c), Abdullah Shafique, Azam Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Ihsanullah, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood, Tayyab Tahir, Zaman Khan.

Reserves: Abrar Ahmed, Haseebullah, Usama Mir

Schedule for Pakistan-Afghanistan T20I series revised

Posted on by A Sports

KABUL: The schedule for the historic T20I series between Pakistan and Afghanistan has been revised after Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have jointly agreed to make slight tweaks to the itinerary.

According to a joint statement released by the two cricket boards, the start of the three-match T20I series has been advanced by a day and will now commence on March 24, while the remaining two matches will be played on March 25 and March 27 in Sharjah.

 

The amendment in the schedule was made due to the unavailability of Hawk-Eye Technology for the previously agreed-upon dates.

“Afghanistan Cricket Board and Pakistan Cricket Board have jointly agreed to make slight tweaks to the itinerary of Afghanistan’s home three-match T20I series against Pakistan. The start of the series is brought forward by a day and will now start on March 24, with the last two games to be played on March 26 and 27 in Sharjah, UAE,” the joint statement read.

“The changes in itinerary are made due to the unavailability of the Hawk-Eye Technology for the previously agreed upon dates. The two boards have agreed upon the changes in itinerary to ensure all the necessary broadcast technologies are available for the inaugural T20I series between the two sides,” it added.

Notably, the upcoming T20I series will mark the first bilateral series between Pakistan and Afghanistan as the two sides had only met in Asia Cups and ICC events.

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Schedule for Pakistan-Afghanistan T20I series announced

Posted on by A Sports

KABUL: The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) on Tuesday, announced the schedule of the three-match home T20I series against Pakistan, which will be played from March 25 to 29 in Sharjah.

In an official statement, the ACB shared the schedule of their home T20I series against Pakistan, which will roll into action on March 25 in Sharjah before the second and third matches between the two teams taking place on March 27th and 29th, respectively, at the same venue.

 

The chairman of ACB Mr. Mirwais Ashraf thanked the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for their willingness to play against Afghanistan and expressed his hope for close working ties between the two cricket boards.

“We appreciate Pakistan Cricket Board’s willingness to play Afghanistan in March. This is a significant accomplishment for two neighbouring countries.

“We are hopeful and looking forward to extending our ties with PCB, as well as continuing great partnerships and frequent cricketing assignments with them, which will help us further strengthen our team and our cricket altogether. Overall, we are excited to host and play Pakistan in what will be a thrilling series of cricket games between the two countries.”

It is worth mentioning here that the ACB executives contacted the PCB to play a three-match ODI series, following Australia’s withdrawal from the ODI series against Afghanistan, citing restrictions on women’s rights in the country.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the PCB management committee Najam Sethi in a press conference in January, shared that the cricketing governing body had no interest in the ODI series, however, the T20I series could be an option subject to approval from the Pakistan government.

“I met the chairman and executives of the Afghanistan [Board] in Dubai. The crux of the matter is that they requested us to play three matches,” shared Sethi.

“My stance was that even if we play those matches, it would not benefit either cricketing nation, so we are not really interested in going ahead and playing those matches.

“Again, keeping it short, since I had a detailed conversation with them. We came to the conclusion that subject to the government’s approval, Pakistan and Afghanistan will play three T20I matches in Sharjah, just after the conclusion of PSL 8 and before the arrival of New Zealand.”

Notably, the upcoming T20I series will mark the first bilateral series between Pakistan and Afghanistan as the two sides had only met in Asia Cup and ICC events.

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