Shadab May Lead Pakistan T20 Side After Return Next Month

Karachi: Experienced all-rounder Shadab Khan is expected to return to the Pakistan T20 squad and lead the national team in the shortest format after completing his rehabilitation program next month following the shoulder surgery he underwent in England earlier this year. Shadab, an experienced campaigner with 70 ODI and 112 T20 International appearances, last played in the home series against Bangladesh in early June before suffering a shoulder injury.

His return will be significant as he is likely to replace Salman Ali Agha as the national T20 captain. Before his surgery, he was vice-captain in the format.

The 27-year-old has already led Pakistan in T20 cricket and also has vast captaincy experience in Pakistan Super League (PSL) and domestic cricket.

While the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is fully behind Salman Ali Agha for now, a reliable source said that they are eyeing Shadab as the long-term captain in the T20 format because after the Asia Cup, there was a lot of talk about whether Salman deserves to feature as a player in the T20 format.

A reliable source said that Shadab will return to the field in the bilateral home series against Sri Lanka from November 11-15 as his rehabilitation is going well.

As there are doubts whether the PCB will be able to host the scheduled tri-series with Afghanistan and Sri Lanka from November 19, the source said it is certain that the national selectors will want to test Shadab in the Sri Lanka series. “He is also planning to play a four-day domestic match in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy before the Sri Lanka series,” the source said. Pakistan has scheduled a series of T20 matches to prepare for next year’s World Cup at home against Australia, which completes its preparations in January.

Discussions are also on about resting Shaheen Shah Afridi and dropping Haris Rauf for the Sri Lanka series and keeping them fresh for the World Cup.