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News

Babar, Rizwan, Afridi, Fakhar and Haris rested for T20Is against Afghanistan

Shadab Khan to lead 15-man side, which includes breakout PSL stars Saim Ayub and Ihsanullah

Umar Farooq
Umar Farooq
13-Mar-2023 • 20 mins ago
Shaheen Shah Afridi, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, among others, have been rested as part of the PCB's new workload-management policy  •  AFP/Getty Images

Shaheen Shah Afridi, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, among others, have been rested as part of the PCB's new workload-management policy  •  AFP/Getty Images

Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Fakhar Zaman and Haris Rauf have all been rested from Pakistan's squad for their upcoming series of three T20Is against Afghanistan in Sharjah. Imad Wasim has been recalled, while Shadab Khan has been named captain, and star PSL 2023 performers Saim Ayub and Ihsanullah have all received call-ups to the national team for the first time.
The new PCB selection committee for the national senior men's team, headed by Haroon Rasheed, has formed a new policy on managing workloads and player rotation. With the series against Afghanistan not a part of the ICC's Future Tours Programme, it gave the selectors an opportunity a chance to try out their new plan.
ESPNcricinfo had earlier reported that the workload management of top players was a major point of discussion at a recent selection committee meeting, as they looked ahead to a year that has both an ODI Asia Cup and an ODI World Cup. Each player's workload was assessed in terms of matches played over the last two years, and Babar, Rizwan and Haris were highlighted as three players who had played a lot of cricket.
Since January 2021, Rizwan has played 150 matches across formats (international and domestic cricket) - the most after Rashid Khan's 157 - while Babar has played 127 and Rauf 125.
Pakistan squad for T20I series against Afghanistan: Shadab Khan (capt), Abdullah Shafique, Azam Khan (wk), Faheem Ashraf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Ihsanullah, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood, Tayab Tahir, Zaman Khan
More to follow...<.i>

Umar Farooq is ESPNcricinfo's Pakistan correspondent