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Pakistan skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi disclosed that the Men in Green have finalised a pool of 16 to 20 players for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 following the conclusion of the five-match series against New Zealand.
Despite facing challenges throughout the series, Pakistan secured a 42-run victory in the final T20I against the Kiwis.
Afridi praised the impactful performance of off-spin veteran Iftikhar Ahmed on a slower track. After the match, Afridi expressed gratitude to the crowd and mentioned the team's preparation for the World Cup in June.
"Ifti (Iftikhar) is a very experienced player, always ready for bowling. We planned to give chances to youngsters in this series and have now sorted out 16-20 players for the World Cup. I want to thank everyone; the crowd was fantastic," said Shaheen after the game.
Iftikhar Ahmed, the seasoned off-break spinner, received the Player of the Match award for his game-changing figures of 3-24.
Reflecting on his successful outing, Iftikhar revealed, "I read the wicket and bowled accordingly. The wicket was turning, so I tried to take wickets systematically. Shaheen informed me before the game that I would bowl today, and I was prepared for it. If the captain wants, I am available to bowl, as I have done before as well."