LAHORE: Status quo will resume when Pakistan host New Zealand in five Twenty20 Internationals and as many one-dayers with Babar Azam set to return as the national side’s captain for the tour starting April 14.
Babar was among the senior players rested for what turned out to be Pakistan’s 2-1 loss in the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan under Shadab Khan’s captaincy last month.
For the New Zealand series, however, Shadab returns to his original position as the side’s vice-captain while mainstays Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Rizwan and Haris Rauf have also been named in both the T20I and One-day International squads , which were announced on Tuesday
Most importantly, though, Pakistan will receive a massive boost with pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi’s return to the national roster for both formats, with the 22-year-old having proved his fitness during the HBL Pakistan Super League.
