Why Naseem Shah is not playing today: Why is Imam-ul-Haq not playing today’s 3rd ODI between Pakistan and New Zealand in Karachi?

During the third ODI of New Zealand’s tour of Pakistan 2023 in Karachi, Pakistan captain Babar Azam has won the toss and chose to bat in a bid to win both the match and the series in what is the last assignment of this home winter season for them.

With the National Stadium a sole venue for all the five matches of this New Zealand’s tour, one expects both the teams to be well-versed with the conditions by now. Pakistan, in particular, have already played three Tests and a couple of ODIs here in the last month and should be confident of finishing the season on a winning note.

Why Naseem Shah is not playing today vs New Zealand?

Pakistan have made a couple of bold changes to their Playing XI for this match. Opening batter Imam-ul-Haq and fast bowler Naseem Shah have been left out to accommodate vice-captain Shan Masood and pacer Mohammad Hasnain. While neither of Haq or Shah has sustained an injury, no rationale has been provided by the Pakistan team management for these changes.

Although just two failures are too less for the management to drop Haq, one can still believe that the same was made due to the left-handed batter scoring just 17 runs in the first two matches. Shah, on the other hand, is the highest wicket-taker in the series picking eight wickets at an average of 14.37, an economy rate of 6.10 and a strike rate of 14.1.

Considering how a lot has been going around the PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) with reports of major changes likely to be made to the national squad, Haq and Shah not playing a crucial match isn’t surprising per se because Pakistan have made such decisions in the past as well.

As far as Masood and Hasnain are concerned, they are playing an ODI after around 45 and eight months respectively. With Masood’s stay limiting to just a couple of deliveries, the onus is now entirely on Hasnain to justify his selection today.