Pakistan’s T20I squad faces a trial by spin as they host Afghanistan in a three-match series during February 2023. With the 50-over World Cup approaching, both Asian rivals look to hone their skills. Get the full series schedules, squads, and details right here. In this post we talk about Pakistan Vs Afghanistan T20I Series Schedules And Squads.
Fixtures: Venues & Dates
The Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed that all three T20Is will take place at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi. Historically known to favor batting, fans can expect high-scoring contests.
Here are the dates for the T20I series
1st T20I – February 15th, 2023
2nd T20I – February 17th, 2023
3rd T20I – February 19th, 2023
Squads Overview
Both teams boast well-balanced rosters mixing veterans and young talent. While Pakistan still leans heavily on captain Babar Azam for batting solidity, emerging players like Mohammad Haris and Aamer Jamal gained selections.
Conversely, the experienced Afghan trio of Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi and Hazratullah Zazai will spearhead the assault. Exciting uncapped batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz also returns hungry to cement his place long-term.
Let’s examine both 15-man squads in closer detail:
Team Pakistan T20I Squad:
Babar Azam (C), Mohammad Rizwan, Haider Ali, Harris Sohail, Asif Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Usman Qadir, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Shahnawaz Dahani, Shan Masood, Aamer Jamal, Mohammad Haris, Shadab Khan.
Team Afghanistan T20I Squad:
Mohammad Nabi (C), Najibullah Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Hazratullah Zazai, Usman Ghani, Darwish Rasooli, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai, Farid Ahmed, Naveen ul Haq, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Qais Ahmad, Ibrahim Zadran, Mujeeb ur Rahman.
Analysis & Match Prediction
On paper, both teams match up closely which points to a hard-fought series. Pakistan arguably carries greater batting firepower with the likes of Babar, Rizwan and Shan Masood in stellar recent form.
However, the Afghan spinners led by Rashid Khan could neutralize Pakistan’s traditionally weaker players of spin. Mujeeb Ur Rahman and youngster Qais Ahmad further bolster the Afghan attack.
Ultimately on slower UAE pitches, Afghanistan’s spin potency gives them the slight edge. But Pakistan’s batting depth seems well equipped now to counter spin challenges. Fans can expect plenty of nail-biting finishes between the two exciting T20 sides.
Series Importance
The series marks an important opportunity for both teams to build momentum before the 50-over World Cup in October. Gaining confidence within their core squads takes high priority.
For Pakistan, shining a light on backup batting options like Haider Ali and Haris becomes vital with seniors like Mohammad Hafeez retiring. Series like these represent auditions for replacing legends long-term.
Similarly, Afghanistan will want to integrate fresh young talents like Azmatullah Omarzai and Darwish Rasooli around their established match-winners. Building squad cohesion early eases growing pains later.
Above all, Pakistan playing at full-strength offers Afghanistan a valuable gauge of their progression. Rashid Khan earlier expressed his team deserved more bilateral series against top-ranked sides. Defeating Pakistan even once would make a major statement towards Asian cricketing supremacy. I hope this Pakistan Vs Afghanistan T20I Series Schedules And Squads post helps you.
