Former Pakistan captain calls for resting senior players in final T20I against New Zealand

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has suggested that senior players Shadab Khan and Shaheen Shah Afridi should be rested for the upcoming fifth T20I against New Zealand, which is set to take place on Wednesday in Wellington.

New Zealand secured an unassailable 3-1 lead in the ongoing five-match series with a dominant 115-run victory in the fourth T20I. Opening batter Finn Allen played a pivotal role in the win, smashing a blistering 50-run knock, while Jacob Duffy claimed four wickets to help seal the victory for the hosts.

New Zealand had earlier won the first two T20Is in similar fashion, while Pakistan showed some promise in the third match. In that game, Pakistan chased down a challenging 205-run target with ease, losing just one wicket and finishing with 24 balls to spare, largely thanks to Hasan Nawaz's record-breaking century.

With the series already out of Pakistan’s reach, Afridi believes it would be an ideal opportunity to give the bench players a chance to showcase their skills. He recommended that Shadab and Shaheen be rested for the final match to allow replacements to step in and gain valuable experience.

“For the final game, the players on the bench should be given a chance - with the series lost, Shadab and Shaheen can be rested and replacements given an opportunity,” Afridi wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Shadab, who made his return to the national team after the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, has struggled to make an impact. He has scored only 30 runs in three innings, with a below-average of just 10. In the bowling department, the all-rounder has taken only one wicket in four matches.

Shaheen’s performance has also been disappointing. The left-arm pacer has claimed just two wickets in as many matches, with a poor average of 66.50 and an economy rate of 10.23.