Pakistan Head Coach Azhar Mahmood betrays PCB, warns of benching Babar Azam vs New Zealand

Interim white-ball head coach of Pakistan Azhar Mahmood shed light upon the team's rotation policy, availability of Shaheen Afridi, and the possible resting of Babar Azam in a recent press conference.

Mahmood appeared in front of media reporters in Rawalpindi, where the 1st of a 5-match T20I series between Pakistan and New Zealand begins tomorrow. The Kiwis have already touched down with a fresh new-look team that will try to challenge a full-strength Pakistani team. 

This series will be the first time since January that the Green Army will be playing any international cricket. Earlier this year, right after enduring a whitewash in a 3-match Test series in Australia, Pakistan visited New Zealand for a T20I series.

The visitors were low on confidence and it was also the first time that Shaheen Afridi was captaining the team in the shortest format. Instead of putting up a good performance, Afridi's side lost by 4-1 and that's something Azhar Mahmood would want to change.  

Having joined the national team as head coach only a few weeks ago, Azhar Mahmood has his sights set on a series win against the Blackcaps.

His main motive will be to figure out the best combinations in the playing and most importantly, strike the right amount of balance, something the Pakistani team has struggled to find in the recent past.

If Mahmood can carry out this task perfectly, then the job will become easier for Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie, who will possibly take over before the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. 

Azhar Mahmood reveals Babar Azam could be rested and Shaheen Afridi available for the entire series against Kiwis

While speaking to media reporters, Azhar Mahmood revealed that Babar Azam, who was re-appointed as Pakistan white-ball captain last month, could be rested in some of the matches as part of the rotation policy. Mahmood claimed that Babar's situation will be assessed closely and that all aspects will be taken into consideration before jumping to a conclusion. "It is possible Babar Azam can rest but it will depend on the situation. We will view all aspects while making the decision." - Mahmood said.

The former all-rounder then cleared the rumors about Shaheen Afridi being in line to miss the first two T20Is on 17th and 20th April.

Mahmood claimed that the news doesn't have any reality to it and that it was just made up by the media. "Well, Shaheen Afridi is completely fit. I have heard the news that he may skip the first two games against New Zealand. But this has come from the media and certainly not from us." - Mahmood added.

Mahmood is happy with Amir and Imad Wasim's inclusion

Azhar Mahmood further feels that the Pakistani team has become a well-balanced side after the inclusion of left-arm seamer Mohammad Amir and all-rounder Imad Wasim.

Both of them came back to the international circuit only because of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 with PCB approving seeing their performance in Pakistan Super League 9. "With the return of Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim, we can use them any time which is an edge." - Mahmood concluded.