Mohammad Rizwan (left) and Babar Azam throughout a match. — PCB/FileSeries will run from March 16 to April 5.Three uncapped gamers in T20I squad.Interim heach coach Aqib Javed to proceed.
Pakistan have dropped Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan from the T20I squad for the upcoming New Zealand collection, with the cricket board tapping Salman Ali Agha to steer the facet within the shorter kind.
Nonetheless, Rizwan will proceed as captain for the ODI collection, with Babar additionally included within the squad, whereas Shaheen Shah Afridi has been omitted of the 50-over format.
The key shuffle comes after Pakistan’s disappointing Champions Trophy marketing campaign, which noticed the defending champions being eradicated through the group stage of the event.
The New Zealand tour will run from March 16 to April 5, with the T20I collection set for March 16-26 and the ODI collection scheduled from March 29 to April 5.
In a press release, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) mentioned that the choice to nominate Salman and Shadab as T20I captain and vice-captain, respectively, has been made with an eye fixed on two main upcoming tournaments.
The occasions embrace the ACC Males’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 (September 2025) and the ICC Males’s T20 World Cup 2026 (February/March 2026). Salman beforehand led Pakistan in a T20I collection towards Zimbabwe final 12 months, profitable 2-1.
The PCB mentioned that Rizwan will proceed main the ODI facet as Pakistan builds in direction of the ICC Males’s 50-over Cricket World Cup 2027, which is able to happen in Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe in October-November 2027.
New faces
Within the T20I squad, there are three uncapped gamers — Abdul Samad, Hasan Nawaz and Mohammad Ali — whereas Akif Javed and Mohammad Ali are the 2 gamers who’ve but to debut in ODIs.
The 4 gamers have been rewarded fo1r their spectacular performances within the Champions One-Day and T20 Cups.
Within the Champions T20 Cup, Samad scored 115 runs at a strike price of 166.67 after aggregating 145 runs at a strike price of 122.88 within the Champions One-Day Cup.
Likewise, Nawaz had a staller Champions T20 Cup, ending because the second main run-getter with 312 runs at a strike-rate of 142.47. Ali with 22 wickets was the main wicket-taker within the Champions T20 Cup, whereas he took three wickets within the Champions One-Day Cup.
Akif has been chosen for the ODI facet after his seven wickets in 5 Champions One-Day Cup matches, whereas he took 15 wickets within the Champions T20 Cup.
Updates on Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub
Openers Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub weren’t thought-about for both format on medical recommendation.
Fakhar suffered a left decrease intercostal muscle sprain throughout Pakistan’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 opener towards New Zealand, whereas Saim is recovering from a proper ankle fracture sustained on the primary day of the Cape City Check towards South Africa in January.
Each are anticipated to be totally match for the HBL Pakistan Tremendous League 10, beginning in Rawalpindi on 11 April 2025.
Coaches
Aqib Javed will proceed as interim head coach for the New Zealand tour.
His unique time period was till the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, however he has been requested to increase his tenure whereas the seek for a everlasting head coach begins.
Mohammad Yousuf has been appointed as batting coach.
Squads
T20I: Salman Ali Agha (c), Shadab Khan (vc), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Hasan Nawaz, Jahandad Khan, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Haris, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim
ODI: Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha (vc), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Akif Javed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir
A wicketkeeper/batter will probably be added to the ODI squad following the T20Is.
New Zealand tour scheduleMar 16 – first T20I, Hagley Oval, ChristchurchMar 18 – second T20I, College Oval, DunedinMar 21 – third T20I, Eden Park, AucklandMar 23 – fourth T20I, Bay Oval, Mount MaunganuiMar 26 – fifth T20I, Sky Stadium, WellingtonMar 29 – first ODI, McLean Park, NapierApr 2 – second ODI, Seddon Park, HamiltonApr 5 – third ODI, Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui
