Pakistan has made significant changes to its T20I squad for the upcoming five-match series against New Zealand, dropping former captain Mohammad Rizwan and star batter Babar Azam. In a bid to revamp their T20I strategy, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed Salman Agha as the new T20I captain, with Shadab Khan returning as vice-captain.
Major Squad Changes: Rizwan Out as T20I Captain, Agha Takes Charge
This is the first squad announcement since Pakistan’s disappointing exit from the Champions Trophy, and it reflects a shift in strategy. Rizwan, who led Pakistan in just five completed T20Is (all defeats), has been replaced by Salman Agha. The selectors have also decided to move past the long-debated Babar-Rizwan opening partnership, opting for fresh faces in the top order.
Mohammad Haris makes a comeback after a lengthy absence, while Saim Ayub remains sidelined due to an ankle injury sustained in South Africa. New inclusions include young wicketkeeper Hasan Nawaz, who has played just 21 T20s and is yet to feature in the PSL, and big-hitting batter Abdul Samad, who earned his spot after an impressive domestic T20 campaign. Additionally, Quetta Gladiators’ batter Omair Yousuf has been called up as Pakistan prioritizes new talent over experience.
Bowling Line-Up Remains Largely Unchanged
The bowling attack sees minimal changes, retaining the core from Pakistan’s recent T20I series against South Africa. Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf lead the pace attack, while Naseem Shah remains absent after last playing a T20I in November against Australia. Spinners Sufiyaan Muqeem and Abrar Ahmed keep their places, with Khushdil Shah also returning to the squad.
ODI Squad Adjustments: Shaheen Afridi Dropped, Rizwan Retains Captaincy
The ODI squad features fewer shake-ups, but the most notable omission is star pacer Shaheen Afridi. Despite being Pakistan’s best bowler in ODI series wins against South Africa and Australia, Afridi has been left out of the squad. Mohammad Rizwan retains the ODI captaincy, while Babar Azam remains in the squad.
Abdullah Shafique returns after being dropped for the Champions Trophy, and left-arm pacer Akif Javed earns his maiden ODI call-up. Spinner Sufiyaan Muqeem also returns to the 50-over format squad.
Pakistan’s Tour of New Zealand Schedule
Pakistan will play five T20Is in New Zealand starting on March 16, followed by a three-match ODI series. The squad changes indicate a strategic shift as Pakistan looks to build a competitive team ahead of future ICC events.
Full Pakistan Squads:
Pakistan T20I Squad: Hasan Nawaz, Omair Yousuf, Mohammad Haris, Abdul Samad, Salman Agha (capt), Irfan Niazi, Khushdil Shah, Shadab Khan (vc), Abbas Afridi, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Sufiyaan Muqeem, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Khan.
Pakistan ODI Squad: Mohammad Rizwan (capt), Salman Agha, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Akif Javed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Irfan Niazi, Naseem Shah, Sufiyaan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir.
With these changes, Pakistan is aiming for a fresh approach in limited-overs cricket. Will these bold decisions pay off against a strong New Zealand side? Stay tuned for all the latest updates!