Pakistan National Cricket Team have announced their playing XI for the first T20I against the South Africa National Cricket Team. In what has been a shocking development, the Mohammad Rizwan-led side has dropped vice-captain Salman Agha from the XI.
There have been several reports which claimed that Salman Agha has been removed as vice-captain of the team. This has come after his poor performances with the bat in the last few series. He failed with the bat terribly in the series against Zimbabwe and Australia in the ODIs and T20Is.
Saim Ayub and captain Mohammad Rizwan will be opening the innings for the Pakistan National Cricket Team in the first T20I
Saim Ayub and captain Mohammad Rizwan will be opening the innings for the Pakistan National Cricket Team in the first T20I. While the left-hander will be entering the series on the back of good performances against Zimbabwe, Rizwan will be coming after rest.
Babar Azam, who has been going through a lean patch, is expected to bat at No.3. He failed in the T20Is against the Australia National Cricket Team and was rested for the series against the Zimbabwe National Cricket Team. He will have a great opportunity to turn things around as well.
Tayyab Tahir replaces Salman Agha in the XI, Usman Khan, Irfan Khan to form middle-order to Pakistan
Usman Khan and Tayyab Tahir, who set the stage on fire in the T20I series against the Zimbabwe National Cricket Team, will be handling the middle order. The two, being less experienced, will have a massive responsibility on their shoulders to help the team win and take an early lead in the series.
Mohammad Irfan Khan will be doing the finisher’s job in the team and would want to make his case strong in the team. Along with him, Abbas Afridi, who will be playing a crucial role with the ball, will be vital with the bat down the order for the Pakistan National Cricket Team.
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Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf will be the two pacers, along with Abbas Afridi. Pakistan National Cricket Team also have named two spinners in the team – Abrar Ahmed and Sufiyan Muqeem, who was the player of the series in Zimbabwe.
Pakistan Playing XI for the first T20I against SA:
Saim Ayub, Mohammad Rizwan(w/c), Babar Azam, Usman Khan, Tayyab Tahir, Irfan Khan, Abbas Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed
BREAKING: Pakistan confirms the final XI for the first T20I against South Africa. pic.twitter.com/mGdKdecvw4
— Faizan Lakhani (@faizanlakhani) December 10, 2024
Pakistan National Cricket Team will be coming into the series on the back of the series win against the Zimbabwe National Cricket Team. But it was a completely different team, which was captained by Salman Agha. This time around, seniors, too, are back, and they would want to make an impact.
On the other hand, the South Africa National Cricket Team will be entering the series on the back of the series loss against the India National Cricket Team. They would be hoping to make a comeback and give their home fans something to cheer about.