PESHAWAR: New Zealand fast bowler Trent Boult – ranked number one in the ICC ODI rankings – says Pakistan’s Muhammad Rizwan and Captain Babar Azam will be tough rivals in this year’s T20 World Cup.
In an interview with the ICC, the host asked Trent Boult, “Who do you think would be the tough batsman in this World Cup?” The Kiwi fast bowler said, “There are a lot of good players but I think Muhammad Rizwan is a great player.” He further said that Babar Azam is also very classic player and has proved himself to be the best player in every format.
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Apart from Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam, Boult said that Irish cricketer Paul Stirling will also be a difficult batsman to bowl during the World Cup.
The T20 World Cup will start on October 17 this year in Oman and the United Arab Emirates. Before the World Cup, Pakistan and New Zealand will play in ODIs and T20s series this month in Rawalpindi and Lahore. The first ODI between the two teams will be played on September 17, the second on September 19 and the third on September 21 in Rawalpindi. In addition, both teams will play five T20 matches in Lahore.
Babar Azam and Shadab Khan will be the captain and vice-captain of the national team respectively. According to the chief selector, the national squad includes Asif Ali, Azam Khan, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hafeez, Hassan Ali, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Nawaz, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain and Sohaib Maqsood.
Fakhr Zaman, Shahnawaz Dhani and Usman Qadir are among the reserve players. The Pakistan Cricket Board has been criticised for ignoring senior players including former captains Sarfaraz Ahmad, Shoiab Malik and Wahab Riaz. The team coaches Misbah Ul Haq and Waqar Younis have resigned hours after the announcement T20 World Cup squad.