Pakistan drop Hafeez and Fakhar for South Africa T20s

In-form batsman Mohammad Hafeez and opener Fakhar Zaman have not been chosen by the selectors for the Pakistan squad for the Twenty20 international series against South Africa next month.

Hafeez scored 502 runs in his last 12 T20 internationals with an average of 100.40 with a strike rate of 153 and has been in the form of his life. However, chief selector Mohammad Waseem said that the batsman is unavailable for the series.

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“There are no questions over Hafeez’s performance, but he has not given his availability on February 3 when the squad will go in a bio-secure environment,” said Waseem while announcing the squad.

Currently, Hafeez is playing the T10 league in Abu Dhabi, which ends on February 6.

On the other hand, Zaman was in poor form, scoring only 97 runs in his last ten matches. Additionally, he also missed the T20 series against New Zealand in December as he was tested covid-19 positive.

Babar Azam is to lead the squad with comebacks made by pacer Hasan Ali, all-rounder Aamer Yamin and batsman Asif Ali.

While pacer Wahab Riaz was left out, uncapped leg-spinner Zahid Mahmood, all-rounder Amad Butt and batsman Danish Aziz are a part of the 20-man squad.

T20 matches between Pakistan and South Africa are scheduled to take place in Lahore on February 11, 13 and 14.Currently, Pakistan leads the two-match Test series 1-0 by defeating South Africa in Karachi on Friday.

The second Test is to begin in Rawalpindi on Thursday.