Separate teams likely for ODIs and T20Is

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is contemplating establishing two sets of teams for different formats of white-ball cricket starting with the five-match T20 series against New Zealand.

The news emerging from the PCB Headquarters in Lahore suggests that the T20 team will mostly consist of young cricketers with the likes of Abbas Afridi, Sufyan Moqeem, Akif Javed, Irfan Khan Niazi, Mohammad Haris, Abdul Samad, Jahandad Khan, Hasan Nawaz and Omair bin Yousaf being strong candidates to make it to the T20 touring squad. Some of the old guards will also be included on the team. Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf are expected to be axed from the T20 format.

The PCB high-ups have tried to hook up Saqlain Mushtaq as a T20 head coach. But negotiation it seems had fallen apart midway. In case of no fresh efforts to restart negotiations, Aaqib Javed may well be seen continuing as a head coach for both formats,

Pakistan are to play five T20 internationals starting with the opening match on March 16 and three ODI during their 23-day stay in New Zealand. In case Aaqib would be asked to continue as team head coach for the New Zealand tour, he is expected to back the inclusion of two of Lahore Qalandar’s speedsters Shaheen Shah and Haris Rauf’s inclusion in the team.

The ODI team combination will be more or less the same that figured in the Champions Trophy. The likes of Kamran Ghulam, Shaheen Shah, and Haris Rauf may well be rested for the three-match ODI series in favour of Akif Javed, Mohammad Ali, and Waseem Jr and some fresh faces.