LAHORE: Some new faces could be included in the Pakistan squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Afghanistan.
According to sources, hard-hitter Azam Khan, all-rounder Imad Wasim and Usama Mir are likely to be included in the national squad.
However, some of the players, who have been playing regularly in the past, could be rested for the series.
Imad and Azam are the second and third, respectively, highest scorers in the ongoing Pakistan Super League season eight. Meanwhile, Usama is the joint-fourth on the list of leading wicket-takers.
Additionally, an interim coaching staff will also be appointed for the series.
The New Zealand series was the last assignment for head coach Saqlain Mushtaq and bowling coach Shaun Tait, since their contract expired in February, 2023.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Yousuf's appointment as batting coach of the Pakistan men's cricket team was determined on a series-to-series basis under the Ramiz Raja-led administration. His permanent role is the batting coach of the National High Performance Centre (NHPC) in Lahore.
The series is likely to be played in Sharjah with Pakistan team leaving for United Arab Emirates (UAE) on March 23. The matches are likely to be completed within a week with the possibility of back-to-back fixtures.
The discussions between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) are in the final stages with the official schedule set to be announced soon.
Earlier, both teams were supposed to play a three-match ODI series this year, instead of T20Is, but, since Pakistan and Afghanistan have already qualified for the 2023 ODI World Cup in India, the format was changed after meeting between Sethi and ACB officials.
"I met with the executive members of Afghanistan Cricket Board and they were asking us to play a (ODI) series but we didn't find any attraction playing the series," Sethi said at a press conference in January.
"It's mainly because the series was meant for the [Super League] points, and now no matter who wins it won't make a difference. So we agreed to play a series of three T20Is in Sharjah just after the PSL subject to government approval. We will share 50% of the revenue from the series equally. And we will jointly outsource the production,” he added.
Sohail Imran Sohail Imran is a senior reporter for Geo News.