PCB names 12-member squad for 1st ODI against New Zealand
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday announced the 12-player squad for the first One-Day International against New Zealand.
The first match between the two teams will be played at the Pindi Cricket Stadium on Friday, at 2:30pm. Pakistan cricket team selectors had earlier this month named the 20-player squad for the three-match series.
Uncapped wicketkeeper Mohammad Haris, fast bowlers Mohammad Wasim and Shahnawaz Dahani, and wrist-spinner Zahid Mahmood had been included in the squad, while middle-order batsmen Iftikhar Ahmed and Khushdil Shah had been recalled to the squad.
The second and third ODIs will be played at the Pindi Cricket Stadium on September 19 and 21, respectively while Gaddafi Stadium will host the T20Is from September 25 to
October 3.
1st ODI squad: Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hassan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imamul-Haq, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Saud Shakil, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Qadir, Zahid Mahmood.
Meanwhile, the newly elected chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ramiz Raja is reportedly angry over the board's failure to acquire the Decision Review System (DRS) for the New Zealand series.
The PCB will now have to suffer financial losses due to the DRS's non-availability during the highly anticipated series between both countries. The PCB had announced last week that the upcoming series would not feature the DRS as the ICC-approved operators were not available during the Pakistan-New Zealand series.
Per details, the PCB's Commercial Department was responsible for signing the contract with the crew but arrangements were not made in time, leaving the board red-faced.
The PCB chairman is "extremely unhappy" over the mismanagement due to which the production quality has been compromised and the board has to bear financial losses for the mishap. It is, however, difficult to estimate the loss yet.
The DRS and ball tracking systems are an integral part of cricket production in recent times. Sources said some PCB officials took the matter lightly and contacted the DRS company late.