Shaheen Afridi also missed the last two Tests against England in October.
Former captain Babar Azam, pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah returned to the Pakistan team for the upcoming white-ball series in Australia.
Radical Islamist networks are deliberately targeting Muslim youths embedded within the country's professional and academic ecosystems, leveraging their skills, mobility, and digital reach to quietly strengthen operational capabilities. This trend highlights a dangerous evolution in terror recruitment -- one that exploits ideological faultlines, online echo chambers and transnational radical Islamist influences to attract individuals who outwardly embody India's modern and aspirational narrative, points out Dr Kanchan Lakshman.
Pakistan's T20 captain, Salman Ali Agha, remains optimistic despite his team's 1-4 series loss to New Zealand, believing the new faces tried out in the matches will eventually come through.
None of New Zealand's batters were able to build on their starts
The seasoned Kiwi coach came under criticism from several former players such as Rashid Latif, Basit Ali, Mohsin Khan, Moin Khan, and Sikander Bakht when media reported said he had asked Babar to keep wickets in the shortest format.
The tournament is scheduled to be held in Pakistan, and Rizwan expressed confidence in the enthusiastic reception the Indian team would receive from Pakistani fans.
Unless a player picks up an injury in training, India's team is expected to wear the same look against a Pakistan squad that are without top stars Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, lending it a look of youth and experience.
It was the highest run chase in men's T20 cricket without losing a wicket.
Pakistan showcased resilience with Rizwan contributing a powerful 88 runs
Rizwan was shifted to a hospital soon after Pakistan's last-over win.
It helps to read wicket, try different options, says Jasprit Bumrah
Pakistan were all out for 260 in 47.2 overs with Babar Azam (64) and Khushdil Shah (69) scoring half-centuries but the hosts never looked in the hunt.
Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson said Babar Azam has been asked to improve certain aspects of his game.
NZ hand young talent contracts as big guns remain casual
A group of fans shouted 'Jai Shri Ram' (Hail Lord Ram) multiple times when Rizwan was walking back to the pavilion after being dismissed by pacer Jasprit Bumrah.
The Pakistan cricket team was fined five percent of their match fee for maintaining a slow over-rate during their Champions Trophy opener against New Zealand in Karachi.
Pakistan opener Mohammad Rizwan spent two nights in the Intensive Care Unit of a hospital, battling severe chest infection but insisted on playing in the T20 World Cup semi-final against Australia, eventually top-scoring for the team in a lost cause.
Admirer of Tendulkar, inspired by Pandya, UAE's Alishan Sharafu ready for India challenge in Asia Cup
Who has scored the most runs in Asia Cup? Who has taken the most wickets?
Pakistan batters Mohammad Rizwan and Shoaib Malik are suffering from 'mild flu' and they could be doubtful starters for the T20 World Cup semi-final against Australia on Thursday.
Social media was quick to react, urging the former captain to 'focus on his batting' rather than engaging in photo sessions.
Pakistan's Olympics gold-winning javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem's Instagram account has been blocked in India owing to a "legal request" in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack.
'I am not against technology in the game. But if it brings doubt and confusion, it is not acceptable. Some decisions were not understandable. The ball hitting the stumps is always out. I will never understand why there is an umpire's call.'
Former Sindh governor Mohammad Zubair also lashed out, alleging Naqvi dropped Pakistan's top players, leading to team's three consecutive defeats at the hands of arch-rivals India.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is set to investigate a case involving a UK-based Pakistani agent, Mughiz Ahmad Shearachiikh, who has been suspended by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for breaching its anti-corruption code. Shearachiikh and his company, International Cricketers Association (ICA), had signed several centrally contracted Pakistani players last year.
He contrasts that with Pakistan's past batting line-ups.
The Pakistan cricket team left for Dubai for the marquee Champions Trophy clash against arch-rivals India without opener Fakhar Zaman, who suffered an injury during the opening match against New Zealand in Karachi on February 19. The left-handed batter has been replaced by Imam-ul-Haq in Pakistan's squad.
India captain Rohit Sharma played down concerns around his fitness after a crucial group A match of the Champions Trophy against Pakistan. Despite a brief period off the field during the Pakistan innings, Rohit assured that his hamstring was "okay." Meanwhile, Virat Kohli's century led India to a six-wicket victory, putting them on the verge of a semifinal berth.
The Instagram accounts of leading current and former Pakistani cricketers were blocked in India on Friday.
'As players, you need to stay calm, try and block that noise out, and just play with the same intensity as you would play Australia or any other team.'
Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi and Mohammad Rizwan have been denied permission by the PCB to play in the Global T20 in Canada.
Babar Azam announced that he will be stepping down as the white-ball captain of the Pakistan cricket team, wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan is likely to take his place
With their semifinal hopes hanging by a thread, Mohammad Rizwan and his men are now at the mercy of other results.
Pakistan and Bangladesh will face off in a dead rubber match in the Champions Trophy on Thursday, both teams looking to salvage some pride after disappointing tournament performances. Both teams have suffered heavy defeats to New Zealand.
Ben Sears picked up five wickets as New Zealand outclassed Pakistan by 43 runs in the third and final ODI, to register a 3-0 series whitewash.
It has been a forgettable campaign for Pakistan in the first global tournament to be staged in the country since 1996.
Fast bowler Khurram Shahzad and Mohammad Abbas have been named in Pakistan's team for the first Test starting on Thursday in Centurion - the first red-ball assignment for newly-appointed interim coach Aqib Javed.
Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan and England's Tammy Beaumont were on Sunday named the ICC men's and women's T20 Player of the Year, respectively, following a prolific 2021.
'India is a strong team. Pakistan is inconsistent.'
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