Will Pakistan drop Shaheen or Shadab for the final T20I?

After a 3-1 loss in the T20 International series, Pakistan’s team management is thinking about tweaks for the fifth and last game against New Zealand in Wellington. Underwhelming performances by top players like Shaheen Afridi and Shadab Khan have sparked questions and a review of the squad’s approach.

Abruptly restored into the team and designated vice-captain, Shadab Khan has battled with both bat and ball. In four games, he has only scored thirty runs while giving up 110 runs in 11 overs, only one wicket.

Shaheen Shah Afridi’s form has also been underwhelming; he has bowled 13 overs in four games, given up 133 runs and only claimed two wickets at an average of 66.50. Notwithstanding these challenges, Haris Rauf has become Pakistan’s best bowler, accumulating eight wickets at an amazing average of 9.50.

With 116 runs in four games, Agha Salman leads Pakistan in the batting category; Hasan Nawaz follows closely with 106 runs. Pakistan has not thus yet made use of Omair Bin Yousuf, Sufiyan Muqeem, or Usman Khan in the series.

Publically advising the management to rest Shaheen Afridi and vice-captain Shadab Khan for the last match, former captain Shahid Afridi has Afridi advised on a post on social media platform X that the squad should take advantage of the chance to test its bench strength since Pakistan has already lost the series.

The Pakistan squad arrived in Wellington from Mount Maunganui on Monday and plans to start final match preparations with a practice session on Tuesday. As critics keep challenging the squad’s strategy in the series, the management is struggling with issues over the performance of the team.

In the fourth T20I, Pakistan’s problems were exacerbated even further as they lost by 115 runs their worst defeat in T20 history. This triumph also represented New Zealand’s biggest format winning margin.

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