Pakistan recall Farhan after five years for NZ T20s

Pakistan have called up opening batter Sahibzada Farhan for the first time in five years and named several uncapped players for January’s five-match Twenty20 series against New Zealand.

Farhan, 27, scored 40 runs in three T20s for Pakistan in 2018 but had been out of favour until Tuesday’s announcement in Lahore.

The right-handed middle-order batter forced his way back after performing impressively in white-ball cricket over the last two domestic seasons. Pakistan, meanwhile, are still looking for the right combination in the middle-order for next year’s T20 World Cup.

In the recent National T20 Cup at Karachi, Farhan scored 492 runs in 12 matches for Peshawar, including one century and four half-centuries, smashing 55 fours and 29 sixes during the tournament.

Pakistan T20 vice-captain Shadab Khan will miss the tour because of an ankle injury he sustained during the National T20 Cup while selectors also rested wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Haris.

Fast bowlers Naseem Shah, Mohammad Hasnain and Ihsanullah, who all missed the 50-over World Cup in India, are still recovering from injuries and were not considered.

Azam Khan, who has played five T20s for Pakistan, was among three wicketkeepers picked in the squad of 17 with Mohammad Rizwan and uncapped Haseebullah the other options.

Pakistan have tried several batters, such as Khushdil Shah, Haider Ali, Shoaib Malik and Faheem Ashraf, in the middle-order in recent years, but chief selector Wahab Riaz told reporters that none could make an impact, prompting selectors to give a chance to the likes of Farhan and Haseebullah.

Fast bowler Abbas Afridi and legspinner Usama Mir, who has played 12 ODIs, were the other uncapped T20 players in the squad.

Riaz said the selectors were well aware of Azam Khan’s fitness issues but wanted to give an opportunity to the youngster, who has been scoring prolifically in T20 leagues around the world.

Khan is on a programme to reduce his weight and Riaz said he will join the cricket academy in Lahore after the series in New Zealand where he will work more on his fitness.

“We have talked to Azam Khan and given him very clear message going forward: ‘We want to invest in you, but at the same time you have to respond as well’,” he said.

Shaheen Shah Afridi will lead Pakistan in T20 for the first time after he was named captain when Babar Azam stepped down from the captaincy in all formats after Pakistan couldn’t qualify for the semi-finals of the 50-over World Cup.

The series begins in Auckland on January 12, with Hamilton, Dunedin and Christchurch hosting the remaining games.

Pakistan squad

Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Aamir Jamal, Abbas Afridi, Azam Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Usama Mir, Zaman Khan.