AUS vs PAK: Pakistan names new captain for T20I series finale after loss
Pakistan announced two changes for the final T20I of their three-match series against Australia, having already lost the series 0-2. Mohammad Rizwan, the regular captain, was notably absent from the playing XI, which was revealed two hours before the match at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart on November 18.
While the reason for his omission was not specified, it appears he was rested for the dead rubber.
Salman Ali Agha will lead Pakistan in the final T20I. The team also left out fast bowler Naseem Shah, likely resting him after his participation in all five matches of the series. Naseem had an injury scare during the first ODI in Melbourne but had recovered to play a key role in their first series win in Australia since 2002.
Pakistan handed a debut to 21-year-old left-arm pacer Jahandad Khan, who had been in strong form in domestic cricket. The final XI included Salman Ali Agha (captain), Sahibzada Farhan, Babar Azam, Haseebullah Khan (wicketkeeper), Usman Khan, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Mohammad Abbas, Shaheen Afridi, Jahandad Khan, Haris Rauf, and Sfyan Moqim.
Pakistan’s struggles in modern T20 cricket were once again evident. In the first T20I, which was reduced to a seven-overs-per-side match due to rain, Pakistan failed to chase down Australia’s 93/4, managing only 64 runs and losing nine wickets. In the second T20I, despite a fifty from Usman Khan, Pakistan could not chase Australia’s total of 148.
