Shadab changed common skipper Babar Azam as Pakistan rested seniors Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf To set up collection.
This isn’t the primary time Shadab is main Pakistan as he in the past led the workforce in a three-match T20I collection in New Zealand when Azam was once injured, dropping 2-1.
“It is a great honor for me to be leading Pakistan,” Shadab mentioned on Thursday. “As a player this is the highest you can go in your career.
“I’m very excited for the approaching 3 T20Is. We have a super combine of adlescent and enjoy, which makes us a well-balanced aspect, and we have now what it takes to win this collection.”
Batters Saim Ayub and Tayyab Tahir, and fast bowlers Ihsanullah and Zaman Khan are all uncapped while Imad Wasim, Faheem Ashraf, Azam Khan and Abdullah Shafique have earned recalls.
Afghanistan have also recalled former skipper Mohammad Nabi after leaving him out of the three-match T20 series against United Arab Emirates that they won 2-1 last month.
Wily leg-spinner Rashid Khan will lead the Afghanistan side, having replaced Nabi last year.
Shadab said Afghanistan were a dangerous side “and they have got some just right T20 gamers of their aspect however I’m very assured with the gamers that I’ve in my squad.”
Pakistan have beaten Afghanistan in all three previous T20Is — a one-off match in 2013 in Sharjah, T20 World Cup 2021 and Asia Cup last year.
Pakistan agreed to play the series, the first bilateral between the two countries, in place of three one-day internationals that Afghanistan were supposed to play against Australia this month.
Cricket Australia pulled out of that series following an announcement from Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban that it was banning university education for girls and not forming a women’s cricket team.
Afghanistan Cricket Board chief executive Khan hoped fans would enjoy a good series.
“Both international locations have passionate enthusiasts who enhance their groups with enthusiasm and delight,” said Naseeb.
“As neighbours, we have now a different bond and we are hoping to show off now not most effective our cricketing abilities but additionally the spirit of friendship and sportsmanship.”
Squads:
Pakistan: Shadab Khan (captain), Abdullah Shafique, Azam Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Ihsanullah, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood, Tayyab Tahir, Zaman Khan
Afghanistan: Rashid Khan (captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, usman ghaniSediqullah Atal, Najibullah Zadran, Afsar Zazai, Karim Janat, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Sharafuddin AshrafNoor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rehman, Fareed Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Naveen-ul-Haq
(With AFP inputs)