Mohammad Amir, Imad Wasim return for New Zealand T20Is

Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim, who recently reversed their decision to retire, have been named in the Pakistan squad for the upcoming T20 International (T20I) series against New Zealand, starting April 18. Usman Khan, who recently pledged his alliance with Pakistan, and 21-year-old Irfan Khan have earned their maiden call-up.

Irfan was recently named Pakistan Super League's (PSL) Emerging Player of the Tournament, scoring 171 runs at a strike rate of 140.16 for Karachi Kings. Usman smashed two fifties and two tons in the tournament for Multan Sultans, helping them to the final.

“On behalf of the selection committee, I extend heartfelt congratulations to Muhammad Irfan Khan and Usman Khan on their inclusion in the Pakistan men’s cricket team for the upcoming home series against New Zealand. Both players have undeniably earned their spots through a string of consistent, outstanding performances," batting coach Mohammad Yousuf said.

“We hold great optimism and belief in their potential to become key impact players, yet recognise that this requires ongoing dedication and effort. I trust that both players will continue their upward trajectory, sparing no effort in proving themselves worthy of the selectors' and captain's trust and confidence.”

This is Pakistan's first series since Babar Azam was re-appointed as captain, replacing Shaheen Afridi after just one series. 

While Amir last played for Pakistan in 2020, Wasim turned up for them as recently as 2023. The duo have 124 wickets between them in T20Is from 116 games and are expected to add much-needed experience in the Pakistan set-up while keeping one eye on the T20 World Cup 2024, in the USA and West Indies, starting June 1.

“The decision to include Imad Wasim and Mohammad Amir was a straightforward one, given their availability for selection and considering Haris Rauf's injury and Mohammad Nawaz's current form. Both Amir and Imad possess undeniable match-winning capabilities, and we trust they will consistently deliver strong performances to bolster the team's objectives," Wahab Riaz, a selection committee member, said.

“As we prepare for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 in the USA and West Indies, this series holds significant importance for Pakistan. Rather than solely focusing on the formidable New Zealand side, we aim to introspect and identify areas for improvement. I anticipate that players will seize the opportunities presented to strengthen their claims for the World Cup," he further added.

The series gets underway on April 18 in Rawalpindi, where the second and third T20Is will be played on April 20 and 21, respectively. The action then shifts to Lahore for the fourth (April 25) and fifth (April 27) matches of the series.

Pakistan squad for New Zealand T20Is: Babar Azam (c), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Amir, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Usama Mir, Usman Khan, Zaman Khan

Non-travelling reserves: Haseebullah, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, and Salman Ali Agha