AUS vs PAK: T20I series lost, Pakistan announce new captain for series finale

Pakistan announced two changes for the last T20I of their three-match series in Australia. Having already lost the series 0-2, Pakistan did not name their regular captain Mohammad Rizwan in the XI, which was announced two hours before the start of the match at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart on Monday, November 18.

Pakistan did not confirm why Mohammad Rizwan was not named in the XI, but he has likely been rested for the dead rubber. Salman Ali Agha will lead Pakistan in the final T20I. Pakistan have also not picked Naseem Shah in the XI and it seems the team management has rested him after playing all five matches in the series. Notably, Naseem suffered an injury scare in the first ODI in Melbourne, but successfully overcame the concern to play a key role in their first series win in Australia since 2002.

Pakistan have handed a debut to 21-year-old left-arm pacer Jahandad Khan, who was in good form in domestic cricket.

PAKISTAN PLAYING XI FOR HOBART T20I

Salman Ali Agha (Captain), Sahibzada Farhan, Babar Azam, Haseebullah Khan (wicketkeeper), Usman Khan, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Mohammad Abbas, Shaheen Afridi, Jahandad Khan, Haris Rauf, Sfyan Moqim.

Pakistan’s inability to play modern-day T20I cricket has been exposed once again. The Mohammad Rizwan-led side lost the first T20I after it was curtailed to a seven-overs-per-side contest due to rain. Australia made 93 for 4 in 7 overs and Pakistan managed just 64 and lost nine wickets after their top-order failed.

In the second T20I, Pakistan opened with Babar and Rizwan, but could not chase a middling total of 148 despite a fifty from Usman Khan.

Former captain Babar Azam’s form is in the spotlight once again as he scored 80 runs across the three ODIs and has managed just six runs from the first two matches. Babar will be keen on making it count in the final T20I as he needs runs to stop the constant chatter around his place, especially in the T20I side.

Pakistan were on a high after winning a historic ODI series under Mohammad Rizwan, but they have miles to go in terms of improving their T20I side.