Shadab will captain in absence of regular skipper Babar Azam who is out with injury.
Shadab, the designated vice-captain, will step-up and lead the side in absence of regular skipper Babar Azam, who fractured his thumb while preparing in the build-up to the series.
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The 22-year-old has played 43 T20Is for Pakistan with 53 wickets and an economy rate of 7.22. He is also an improved batsman in recent times.
Apart from Babar, most of the Pakistan squad is the same which whitewashed Zimbabwe 3-0 in a home series in Rawalpindi last month.
Shadab said it's an honour for him to lead the nation on such a big tour but did also admit Pakistan will feel the absence of their batting mainstay in Babar.
"His absence in the side will be surely felt," he was quoted as saying by samaa.tv. "However, it will provide an opportunity for new players to step up and showcase their talent."
Hamilton and Napier will host the last two T20Is on December 20th and 22nd in a series which helps both teams with their preparations towards the next year's World Cup in India.
Pakistan squad 1st T20I:
Shadab Khan (c), Abdullah Shafique, Faheem Ashraf, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Hussain Talat, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Wahab Riaz.