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Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi Return As Pakistan Announce Playing XI For 1st T20I vs South Africa

Aashay Chopade

Shaheen Afridi and Babar Azam (Source:@@CricCrazyJohns/X.com)Shaheen Afridi and Babar Azam (Source:@@CricCrazyJohns/X.com)

The Mohammad Rizwan-led Pakistan management has announced the playing XI for the first T20I of the three-match series against Pakistan. The lineup sees a return of superstars like Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi along with Mohammad Rizwan who all were absent during the Zimbabwe T20I series.

Pakistan have dropped Salam Ali Agha who was leading them in Zimbabwe series after his poor run-of-form in the last couple of series. However, Tayyab Tahir who did well on the Zimbabwe tour has been rewarded and will form the core of the middle order alongside the likes of Usman Khan and Muhammad Irfan Khan.

Suspense Over Pakistan Openers Continue

There is still mystery over who will open for Pakistan as Saim Ayub did well recently as an opener and there is an urge to bring an aggressive batter at the top of the order. Rizwan and Babar Azam can also open again like they did in Australia while Mohammad Abbas Afridi has been trusted to play a role of all-rounder and is slotted to bat at seven.

Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf are the two pacers alongside Abbas Afridi while Pakistan have decided to go with their deadly spin duo of Sufiyan Moqim and Abrar Ahmed. The first T20I will be played in Kingsmead Durban while the second and third encounters will be played in Centurion and Johannesburg respectively.

Pakistan's Playing XI For 1st T20I vs South Africa

Mohammad Rizwan (C & WK), Babar Azam, Saim Ayub, Usman Khan, Tayyab Tahir, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Moqim, Abrar Ahmed