Pakistan name 13-member ‘A’ squad for New Zealand ‘A’ series in UAE

Pakistan on Friday announced a 13-member ‘A’ squad for their three-match T20 series against New Zealand ‘A’ to be held at the ICC Cricket Academy Ground in Dubai this month. Umar Amin was picked as the captain of the squad. Pakistan ‘A’ will take on New Zealand ‘A’ in the three T20s on October 12, 15 and 17. They will also play three unofficial ODIs at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on October 21, 24 and 26.

Amin has played four Tests, 16 ODIs and 14 T20Is between 2010 and 2018, has scored a little over 500 international runs in a span of eight years with just one fifty. Fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi, who has come up through the ranks in the last few months, has also been included.

Senior team to also play

Pakistan’s senior team is also scheduled to host New Zealand in the UAE after it plays two Tests and three T20Is against Australia. The Black Caps will play three T20Is, as many ODIs and Tests in the series against Pakistan starting October 31 and concluding December 7. Kane Williamson will lead the Kiwis in all three formats.

Pakistan have been hosting teams in the UAE as cricket has remained suspended in their original home since March 2009 following a terror attack on the bus of the Sri Lankan cricket team which was touring the country then. A Zimbabwean side though toured Pakistan a few years ago but top teams like Australia and New Zealand have refused to travel there owing to security reasons.

Pakistan will be looking to discover new talents in this series since their senior team came under heavy criticism because of the shoddy performance they produced in the Asia Cup.

Here is the Pakistan ‘A’ squad

Umar Amin (C), Shahibzada Farhan, Agha Salman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Asif Ali, Hussain Talat, Aamer Yamin, Ammad Butt, Raza Hassan, Waqas Maqsood, Umaid Asif, Mohammad Hasan (wk) and Shaheen Shah Afridi.

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