AUS vs PAK: Pakistan Announces New Skipper for Series Decider After Losing T20I Series
Pakistan has shuffled their gears pretty much in their three-match T20I series against Australia. After such an appalling loss in the first two matches, Pakistan’s team management has released several players out for the final game scheduled at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart on Monday, November 18. Since the series is already decided in favor of Australia, Pakistan’s team management has given rest to key players along with regular captain Mohammad Rizwan and star pacer Naseem Shah.
Salman Ali Agha replaces as Captain
Salman Ali Agha has been surprisingly given the opportunity for the last T20I as the captain. The management decided to give Rizwan a break as they chose this tour to be exhausting. Though no statement was made to explain the reason behind Rizwan’s absence from the game, it is believed as a strategic move to keep him in the rest condition, mainly as it becomes a dead rubber game.
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Salman, known for his brilliant leadership qualities and composure on the field, has to lead a side that has so far struggled to find out how to adapt to the demands of modern T20I cricket. The chance also allows the team to look in at its bench strength as well as appraise other players under different leadership dynamics.
Naseem Shah Also Rested; Jahandad Khan Makes His Debut
Even Naseem Shah, crucial for Pakistan in the entire tour, is given rest for the final game. Naseem’s workload was something of concern from when he had met with a near scare during the first ODI in Melbourne. However, that did not stop him from playing some decisive knocks that played an important role in helping Pakistan win the historic ODI series, which it has not won in Australia since 2002.
Replacing Naseem is 21-year-old left-arm pacer Jahandad Khan, rewarded for his impressive showings in domestic cricket. His inclusion is believed to be a strategic decision to foster young blood and bring in much-needed variety in Pakistan’s bowling attack. The left-armer will also gain valuable international experience.
Pakistan Playing XI for Hobart T20I
Pakistan’s playing XI for the final T20I are:
Salman Ali Agha (Captain)
Sahibzada Farhan
Babar Azam
Haseebullah Khan (Wicketkeeper)
Usman Khan
Muhammad Irfan Khan
Mohammad Abbas
Shaheen Afridi
Jahandad Khan
Haris Rauf
Sfyan Moqim
In these changes, there is a focus on testing new combinations and getting the experience after giving rest to some of the seniors.
It also shows that it aims at balancing experience with fresh faces.
Struggles for Pakistan in the Series
The T20I series has forced Pakistan to face its inability to match the pace and aggression required in modern-day T20 cricket. The first match was restricted to seven overs each by rain, and with Australia managing 93 for 4, Pakistan almost crumbled miserably to hand over just 64 runs and lose nine wickets. The top order failed, and the collapse further deepened their batting problems.
Pakistan, opening with their known experienced pair of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, could not chase a modest target of 148 runs, faltering in the second T20I. While Usman Khan produced some promise by making his half-century, the display in general was thin on firepower to win the game.
Babar Azam’s Form Under Scanner
Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam has faced criticism throughout the series. Just two T20Is with six runs as his contribution and a meager 80 runs amassed in the three ODIs means that much remains to be answered by him on their availability for the T20I team. He is one of the most dependable batsmen in Pakistan cricket in the recent past, and his inconsistency is a cause for alarm.
The last T20I would provide an excellent window of opportunity for Babar to prove his detractors wrong as he attempts to regain his earlier form. He could provide a good contest in Hobart and later regain his confidence, thereby cementing his position as a valuable man for the T20Is.
A Promising Start to the Tour, But T20I Woes Persist
A tour of Australia got off to a great start for Pakistan at the hands of a young Mohammad Rizwan as an ODI series win in the country ended the two-decade-long drought of Pakistan’s bilateral wins on the Australian soil. However, it has not gone quite so well for them in not being able to take that momentum into the T20I series.
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The issues rising with the adjustment to the shorter format have again risen the call for a strategic overhaul. Pakistan’s batting order has not shown intent to dominate in T20 cricket. Additionally, the reliance on Rizwan and Babar to conserve innings has further marginalized the middle order.
Future: Rebuilding for a better T20I XI
As the T20I series is nearing its close, Pakistan needs to concentrate on redeeming their inefficiencies in the shortest format. Players like Usman Khan coming to the fray and young talented Jahandad Khan’s debut would attract a smile for all cricket fans. Yet, a well defined strategy should be there for having a balanced squad which will let them match the other top teams.
Leadership will change, try out different playing combinations and highlight the usage of modern T20 skills are going to play an important role. These are tests on bench strength in the final T20I against Australia and end the series on a winning note.
Conclusion
Pakistan rested Mohammad Rizwan and Naseem Shah for the final match of the series, quite a strategic move to balance the workload of their players and give time to young players to prove themselves. Captain Salman Ali Agha and Jahandad Khan’s debut as a player in this series point towards forward-looking thinking.
It became a type of wake-up call for the management to rethink their strategy regarding the shortest format, but with this T20I series, its imperfections were unveiled. Pakistan can well try to build up a good T20I team in the near future if adjusted rightly and raised with the right type of young talent.
