Afghanistan, Pakistan to Play Cricket in First Bilateral Series in Years

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Afghanistan and Pakistan are set to face off in their first cricket bilateral series in years. The game on Friday starting at 7pm will be played at Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Afghanistan and Pakistan are set to resume their cricket rivalry, facing off in the first bilateral series in years.

 

The game on Friday starting at 7pm will be played at Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It will be the first of three T20 International (T20I) matches between the two teams in the series, with the other two scheduled for March 26 and 27.

 

Pakistan will be led for the first time by leg-spinning all-rounder Shadab Khan, following a decision to rest regular captain Babar Azam.

 

Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Rizwan and Fakahar Zaman are other notable absentees, as Pakistan looks to introduce new talents who impressed in the recently concluded Pakistan Super League (PSL), the country’s domestic T20 tournament.

 

“The uncapped players in our squad have earned their call-ups given their consistent performances in domestic cricket and impactful displays in the PSL,” Khan said before the series.

 

Pakistan is expected to give a cap to Ihsanullah, an express fast bowler who took 22 wickets in the PSL and won the Player of the Tournament award.

 

Swashbuckling Saim Ayub, whose audacious shot-making during the PSL turned heads, is also part of the new-look squad.

 

For its part, the Afghanistan team will be skippered by leg-spinner Rashid Khan, while former captain Mohammad Nabi also makes a return to the squad.