Shaheen Afridi returns for white-ball series against New Zealand

Shaheen Afridi has returned to the Pakistan squad for the first time in four months for the T20 International (T20I) and One-Day International (ODI) series against New Zealand at home. He will feature for his nation for the first time since playing in the T20 World Cup final against England at MCG.  

Afridi missed five Tests and three ODIs against England and New Zealand to complete his rehabilitation after sustaining a knee injury during the T20 World Cup final, where he walked off after bowling just 2.1 overs. Since then, Shaheen has led Lahore Qalandars to yet their second Pakistan Super League (PSL) title in as many years.

The white-ball series will also mark the return of skipper Babar Azam, wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan, Haris Rauf and Fakhar Zaman, who were rested for the T20I series against Afghanistan in Sharjah. Ihsanullah, Saim Ayub and Zaman Khan, who played a part in the Afghanistan T20Is have been retained for the T20I series against the Blackcaps. At the same time, Ihsanullah has also received an ODI call-up.

The series will begin on April 14 in Lahore where the first three T20Is will be played before moving to Rawalpindi for the final two T20Is. Rawalpindi will also play host to the first two ODIs and the tour will reach its climax in Karachi, where the remaining three matches will be played.

Pakistan T20I Squad vs New Zealand: Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan (vc), Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Ihsanullah, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood and Zaman Khan

Pakistan ODI Squad Squad: Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan (vc), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haris Sohail, Ihsanullah, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood and Usama Mir. Reserves: Abbas Afridi, Abrar Ahmed and Tayyab Tahir