Mohammad Haris comments on Babar-Rizwan’s omission from T20I squad

Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Haris has commented on the omission of senior players Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan from the national T20I squad for the New Zealand series.

The omission of the two stalwarts has been a topic of discussion among fans and critics alike.

However, Haris, who is set to make his return to the national squad, maintained a calm and respectful stance when questioned about the absence of the star players.

“Not selecting Babar Azam and Rizwan is the decision of the selection committee,” he said.

Mohammad Haris also spoke about his experience playing in New Zealand, stating that adapting to the conditions would not be a problem for him.

“I have played in New Zealand before, so there will be no problem adapting to the conditions there,” he said.

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Reflecting on his leadership experience with Pakistan Shaheens, he mentioned that he takes pride in representing the national team.

“I have captained Pakistan Shaheens, and whenever I get the chance to play for the national team, I enjoy the opportunity,” he added.

The series between Pakistan and New Zealand will run from 16 March 16 to 5 April, featuring five T20Is and three ODIs. The T20I series will kick off in Christchurch on 16 March, while the second match is scheduled to be played in Dunedin on 18 March.

The third match will be played in Auckland on 21 March, while the subsequent games are scheduled in Mount Maunganui and Wellington on 23 and 26 March, respectively.

Following the T20I series, the teams will travel to Napier for the first ODI, scheduled for 29 March. The second ODI will be played on 2 April in Hamilton, while Mount Maunganui will host the final ODI on 5 April.

Pakistan squads for New Zealand tour

ODIs: Mohammad Rizwan (c)(wk), Salman Ali Agha (vc), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Akif Javed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr., Mohammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir.

T20Is: Salman Ali Agha (c), Shadab Khan (vc), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Hasan Nawaz, Jahandad Khan, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Usman Khan (wk).

READ: Jason Gillespie slams Sunil Gavaskar’s ‘nonsense’ comment on the Pakistan cricket team

Pakistan beat New Zealand to retain dominance in T20 World Cup

Pakistan won by five wickets to remain at top of the points table of Group 2

PAK 135/5 (18.4 overs)

Boult bowls

Pakistan need nine runs to win off 12 balls

PAK 126-5 (18 overs)

Santner bowls his last over

PAK 111-5 (17 overs)

Southe bowls his last over

PAK 98-5 (16 overs)

Sodhi to bowl his fourth over

PAK 91-5 (15 overs)

Boult joins the bowling attack again

PAK 82-4 (14 overs)

Sodhi continues

PAK 75-4 (13 overs)

Neesham comes again

PAK 70-4 (12 overs)

Sodhi comes in

PAK 63-3 (11 overs)

Santner comes back

PAK 58-2 (10 overs)

Neesham continues

PAK 47-2 (9 overs)

Ish Sodhi to bowl his first over

PAK 39-1 (8 over)

James Neesham joins the bowling attack

PAK 36-1 (7 overs)

Santner has been given bowling after powerplay

PAK 30-1 (6 over)

5.1: Inside edge and Babar got out off Southee

Southee comes to bowl his third

PAK 28-0 (5 overs)

Boult comes again

PAK 22-0 (4 overs)

Southee continues

PAK 14-0 (3 overs)

Trent Boult joins bowling

PAK 9-0 (2 overs)

Tim Southee joins bowling from the other end

PAK 7-0 (1 over)

Babar, Rizwan come out to bat for Pakistan. Mitchel Santner starts bowling from New Zealand

PAKISTAN VS NEW ZEALAND (2nd INNINGS)

Pakistan need 135 runs to win their second match in T20 World Cup 2021

NZ 134-8 (20 overs)

Haris to bowl last over for Pakistan

NZ 125-7 (19 overs)

Shaheen to bowl his last over

NZ 119-6 (18 overs)

Two wickets for Haris

Haris comes again

NZ 116-4 (17 overs)

Shaheen comes back

NZ 107-4 (16 overs)

Hasan continues

NZ 100-4 (15 overs)

Haris comes back

NZ 95-4 (14 overs)

13.1: Direct throw from Hasan off his delivery, Kane Williamson gets run-out

Hasan comes back

NZ 90-3 (13 overs)

Shadab continues

NZ 75-3 (12 overs)

Hafeez continues

NZ 63-3 (11 overs)

Shadab joins back

NZ 60-3 (10 overs)

9.1: James Neesham went for a big shot but didn’t connect it well, ball went straight in the hands of Fakhar Zaman. Hafeez strikes on his first ball

Hafeez comes to bowl the left-hander

NZ 56-2 (9 overs)

8.2: Imad makes comeback after receiving a sixer. Daryl Mitchel went for another one but this time caught at long-on

Imad continues

NZ 48-1 (8 overs)

Shadab joins the attack

NZ 47-1 (7 overs)

Imad joins back

NZ 42-1 (6 overs)

5.2: Martin Guptill was deceived by Haris Rauf and the ball hit his pads, went to thrash the stumps

Haris Rauf brought into attack

NZ 39-0 (5 overs)

Hasan Ali comes to bowl

NZ 21-0 (4 overs)

Imad continues

NZ 15-0 (3 overs)

Shaheen continues

NZ 7-0 (2 overs)

Imad comes into the attack

NZ 0-0 (1 over)

Maiden over from Shaheen

Shaheen to bowl first over for Pakistan

PAKISTAN VS NEW ZEALAND (1ST INNINGS)

SHARJAH: Pakistan have won the toss and decided to bowl first against New Zealand in seventh match of the T20 World Cup 2021 here at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Tuesday. 

SQUADS

PAKISTAN: Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi

NEW ZEALAND: Kane Williamson, Martin Guptill, Devon Conway, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, James Neesham, Tim Seifert †, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Trent Boult

WATCH: Babar’s father breaks into ‘tears of happiness’

DUBAI: Pakistan’s skipper Babar Azam’s father was broken into tears of happiness after Pakistan clinched their first-ever T20 World Cup victory against India on Saturday here at Dubai International Stadium. 

In a video that went viral on social media, Babar’s father Azam Siddique can be seen in tears while celebrating Pakistan’s victory.

https://twitter.com/schaheid/status/1452340271044300803

It must be noted here that Babar alongside his opening partner Mohammad Rizwan played an anchor role in Pakistan’s 10-wicket victory over their arch-rivals India. Babar scored 68 runs whereas Rizwan made 78 in a convincing victory.

READ: Memes roll over after Pakistan notch maiden victory against India in T20 WC