The Pakistan cricket team arrived in Christchurch on Thursday ahead of their T20I series opener against New Zealand on March 16, marking the beginning of their rebuilding phase after a disappointing ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign.
Pakistan Seeks Redemption in New Zealand
Pakistan’s white-ball tour includes five T20Is and three ODIs, spanning three weeks. This marks their first limited-overs series after a dismal home Champions Trophy, where they failed to secure a single win—losing to New Zealand and arch-rivals India before rain washed out their match against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi.
New Leadership for T20Is
With key players like Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan absent from the T20I squad, Pakistan will be led by Salman Ali Agha, with Shadab Khan serving as vice-captain. The squad also features three uncapped players—Abdul Samad, Hasan Nawaz, and Mohammad Ali—indicating a shift towards grooming young talent.
ODI Captaincy Stays with Rizwan
While Rizwan has been rested for the T20Is, he will return to lead the ODI squad, with Salman Ali Agha as his deputy. The three-match ODI series is scheduled from March 29 to April 5, providing Pakistan an opportunity to refine their squad as they build towards the ICC Men’s 50-over Cricket World Cup 2027, set to be hosted in Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.
Long-Term Planning for Major Tournaments
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) clarified that the decision to appoint Salman and Shadab as T20I captain and vice-captain is a strategic move with an eye on the upcoming ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 (September 2025) and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 (February/March 2026). Salman had previously led Pakistan to a 2-1 T20I series victory over Zimbabwe.
Pakistan’s T20I roadmap includes:
- ACC Asia Cup 2025 (Minimum 5 T20Is)
- Home and Away T20I Series: Bangladesh (May), West Indies (July), Afghanistan (August), Ireland (September), South Africa (September/October), Sri Lanka (November), and Australia (January 2026).
Coaching Staff and Squad Details
Aqib Javed will continue as interim head coach for the New Zealand tour while the PCB searches for a permanent appointment. Meanwhile, Mohammad Yousuf has been named the batting coach.
Pakistan’s T20I Squad:
Salman Ali Agha (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Hasan Nawaz, Jahandad Khan, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Haris, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousaf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Usman Khan.
Pakistan’s ODI Squad:
Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), 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.
As Pakistan begins this crucial tour, all eyes will be on their performance as they aim to bounce back and prepare for future global tournaments. Stay tuned for the latest updates!