Pakistan Selects Bowlers, Excludes Shaheen Shah Afridi
Pakistan has made significant changes to its T20I squad ahead of the match against South Africa. The team has opted to exclude star bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi, bringing in Salman Mirza as a replacement.
Pakistan Excludes Shaheen Shah Afridi
In a move that surprised many, Pakistan left out Shaheen Shah Afridi for the second T20I in Lahore. Shah Afridi had a tough outing in the first match, conceding 45 runs in four overs. His performance prompted the selectors to make a change to the bowling lineup.
New Addition: Salman Mirza
Salman Mirza, a left-arm medium-fast bowler, has been called up to the squad. He has played five T20I matches since his debut this year, taking eight wickets at an impressive average of 16.75 and an economy rate of 6.87. His inclusion aims to enhance Pakistan’s attack as they look to rebound from the previous game’s loss.
Match Context and Current Series
Pakistan faced South Africa in the second T20I, hoping to equalize the series after losing the first match. The South African team currently leads the series 1-0. The first T20I took place in Rawalpindi, where South Africa posted a formidable total of 194 runs.
Teams for the Second T20I
Below are the confirmed lineups for both teams:
- Pakistan:
- Saim Ayub
- Sahibzada Farhan
- Babar Azam
- Salman Ali Agha (captain)
- Usman Khan (wicketkeeper)
- Hasan Nawaz
- Mohammad Nawaz
- Faheem Ashraf
- Naseem Shah
- Salman Mirza
- Abrar Ahmed
- South Africa:
- Quinton de Kock (wicketkeeper)
- Reeza Hendricks
- Tony de Zorzi
- Dewald Brevis
- Matthew Breetzke
- Donovan Ferreira (captain)
- George Linde
- Corbin Bosch
- Ottneil Baartman
- Nandre Burger
- Lungi Ngidi
As the match unfolds, Babar Azam’s performance remains crucial. After making a T20I comeback in the first match but failing to score, the pressure is on him to deliver for his team. The new bowling strategy featuring Salman Mirza is expected to play a vital role in Pakistan’s quest for victory.
