DUNEDIN: Pakistan on Tuesday made three changes to their playing XI for the third Twenty20 International against New Zealand.

The third game of the five-match series will be staged at the University Oval in Dunedin on Wednesday. New Zealand have taken a solid 2-0 lead in the series after winning the games in Auckland and Hamilton.

Fast bowler Mohammad Wasim Jr has come in for pacer Abbas Afridi, who was sidelined due to a low-grade abdominal wall muscle strain causing discomfort.

According to a news release issued by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on its website, right-armer Abbas’ scan has shown no sign of significant injury, and he will be managed symptomatically.

The 22-year-old’s availability for the last two T20s in New Zealand will be made at a later stage, read the PCB statement.

Abbas, who made his T20 Intern­ational debut in Auckland, has done well so far in the series capturing five wickets at an average of 15.40.

Additionally, left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz has been chosen to replace leg-spinner Usama Mir, who claimed just one wicket in the first two games of the series.

Fast bowler Aamer Jamal, who impressed in his Test debut series in Australia with 18 wickets prior to the New Zealand T20 series, has been omitted from the playing XI after a pretty ordinary show in the first two outings.

Aamer has been replaced with T20 specialist paceman Zaman Khan.

Team: Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Azam Khan (wicket-keeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Mohammad Wasim Jr, Zaman Khan, Haris Rauf.

Published in Dawn, January 17th, 2024